Rayonier Names Nunes Post-Separation CEO

Rayonier Inc. Jacksonville, Fla., USA, has appointed David L. Nunes COO. Upon Rayonier’s previously announced mid-year separation, Nunes will assume the role of president and CEO of Rayonier Inc. and Paul Boynton, Rayonier’s current chairman, president and CEO, will become chairman, president, and CEO of Rayonier Advanced Materials. 

"Dave will provide strong leadership and direction to the new Rayonier," said Boynton. "With 30 years of industry experience, he will continue Rayonier’s long legacy of growing shareholder value and provide strategic direction to one of the best teams of timber and real estate professionals in our industry." 

Nunes will join Rayonier on June 9 as COO and will play a key role in finalizing the separation of the company. Upon completion of the separation, he will assume responsibility for the leadership of Rayonier Inc. As previously announced, Rayonier’s Performance Fibers division will become Rayonier Advanced Materials, an independent company initially focused on the production of high-purity cellulose specialty products. 

 

 Nunes brings three decades of timber and real estate industry leadership to his new role, including more than 15 years as a senior executive. He joins Rayonier from Pope Resources, where he has served as president and CEO since 2002. 

Nunes joined Pope Resources in 1997 as director of portfolio management, working with prospective investors on developing timberland investment portfolios. He became VP of portfolio development, and then served two years as SVP of acquisitions and portfolio development before being named president and COO in 2000. 

Appointed president and CEO in 2002, Nunes launched the company’s private equity timber fund business, which now manages timberlands in three funds. Pope Resources also manages development acreage in the Seattle metropolitan area. In his tenure as CEO, Nunes has consistently delivered value to Pope’s unit holders. 

Previously, Nunes spent nine years with Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wash., joining the organization in 1988 as a business analyst and advancing through a number of leadership roles to become director of corporate strategic planning. 

Following the separation, Richard Kincaid, director, will become chairman of Rayonier Inc. 

Nunes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Pomona College and an MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.