The Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance, Washington, D.C., USA, this week announced that David Turpin (top photo) will become its executive director, effective July 1. Following a transition period, Ron Brown (lower photo), the current executive director, will retire as a full-time employee in August.

 

Beth Cormier, chair of the Agenda 2020 Board of Directors and VP for research and innovation with Sappi Fine Paper NA, notes that "David’s industrial experience and demonstrated skills in technical management are an excellent match for the priorities of Agenda 2020, and the board looks forward to David’s leadership in advancing Agenda 2020 for industry-wide benefit." 

 

Turpin has considerable experience in the forest products industry, having worked with MeadWestvaco in a range of leadership positions in research and development, manufacturing, and information systems. His most recent assignment was with MeadWestvaco Research & Development as VP, Innovation Systems. In 2007-2009, he chaired the Research Advisory Committee at Georgia Tech’s Institute of Paper Science and Technology (recently renamed the Renewable Bioproducts Institute) in Atlanta, Ga. Turpin is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a B.S. in paper science and technology. 

 

Brown is retiring from Agenda 2020 after serving as executive director since 2008. During this time, the Alliance doubled its number of member companies, completed the 2010 Technology Roadmap and launched action teams in 2013 that are now completing R&D roadmaps directed at promising technologies in priority areas. In addition, Agenda 2020 won the highly competitive AMTech award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for mapping the development of advanced technologies for manufacturing pulp, paper, and forest bioproducts.

 

The Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance is a consortium of companies organized to promote the development of advanced technologies for the forest products industry. Its member companies include pulp and paper producers with global operations and companies that supply products and services to the industry. Working with partners in the research community and government, Agenda 2020 encourages collaborative R&D programs that promise large benefits in sustainable manufacturing and opportunities for new markets.