International Paper (IP), Memphis, Tenn., USA, this past week announced Carol L. Roberts, SVP and CFO, and William Hoel, SVP, Container the Americas, will retire on March 31, 2017. 

Roberts joined IP in 1981 and has helped lead the company as a member of the senior lead team since 2005. She led the company's North American industrial packaging business for seven years, building the foundation for a business that is a global leader in corrugated packaging. Serving as chief financial officer since 2011, Roberts has led a world-class finance organization with a relentless focus on ensuring the financial strength of the company. She earned the respect of her industry peers and the investment community throughout her 35-year career.

In 1983, Hoel joined Masonite Corp., which was later acquired by IP. He served as VP and executive assistant to then Chairman and CEO John T. Dillon. During his career, Hoel led the company's decorative products and wood products businesses and the corporate sales and marketing organization. For more than a decade, he has led the growth and optimization of the company's North American corrugated packaging business. Under his leadership, the company successfully integrated Box USA and the corrugated packaging units of Weyerhaeuser and Temple-Inland. Hoel has served on the senior lead team since 2011.

"For more than 30 years, Carol and Bill have been key contributors to our success; they have been integral in leading our transformation to a more successful and sustainable company," said Mark S. Sutton, chairman and CEO. "We will continue to benefit from the people and organizations they developed and we wish them all the best in retirement."

The company announced the following senior leadership transitions and the IP Board of Directors elected two new SVPs: 

• Glenn R. Landau has been named SVP, finance, effective Jan. 1, 2017, and will become the company's CFO effective with the filing of the company's 2016 Form 10-K in the first quarter of 2017. For the remainder of this year, he will transition his current responsibilities in Latin America.
• W. Michael Amick Jr., has been named SVP, Paper the Americas, effective Jan. 1, 2017. Amick will continue to lead the company's North American papers business and assume additional responsibilities for the company's papers business in Latin America.
• Timothy S. Nicholls has been named SVP, Industrial Packaging the Americas, effective Jan. 1, 2017. Nicholls will continue leading the company's North American industrial packaging business and assume additional responsibilities for the company's packaging business in Latin America.
• Gregory T. Wanta has been elected SVP, North American Container, effective Dec.1, 2016. Wanta will assume Hoel's previous responsibility for the company's North American corrugated packaging business.
• Catherine I. Slater has been elected SVP, Consumer Packaging. Slater will join International Paper from Weyerhaeuser Co., effective with the completion of the acquisition of Weyerhaeuser's pulp business, which she currently leads. Slater will assume responsibility for leading the company's consumer packaging business, which includes the coated paperboard and foodservice businesses.

"We have experienced and accomplished leaders who are ready to step into new roles and accelerate our performance," said Sutton. "This new senior leadership team will enable us to continue to pursue our vision of being among the most successful, sustainable, and responsible companies in the world."

Landau joined International Paper in 1991 and held positions of increasing responsibility within the company's U.S. and European corrugated packaging businesses, strategic planning, and North American containerboard and recycling. Landau served as VP, investor relations, from 2011 to 2013. In April 2013, he was named president, IP Latin America, and became a SVP in November 2014.

Amick began his career with IP in 1990 and has held positions of increasing responsibility in supply chain, distribution, IP India, consumer packaging, and North American papers and pulp. Amick currently serves as SVP, North American papers and consumer packaging.

Nicholls joined the company in 1991 and has held positions of increasing responsibility in industrial packaging, finance, and printing papers and pulp. He served as CFO from 2008 to 2011. Nicholls currently leads the North American industrial packaging business.

Wanta joined IP in 1991 and has served in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in manufacturing and commercial leadership roles in specialty papers, coated paperboard, printing papers, foodservice, and industrial packaging. He currently serves as VP, Container the Americas, Central Area.

Slater’s 24-year career with Weyerhaeuser includes leadership roles in manufacturing, printing papers, consumer products, wood products, and the cellulose fibers business. She currently serves as SVP, cellulose fibers. Prior to joining Weyerhaeuser, Slater held several leadership roles at Procter and Gamble. She will relocate from Seattle, Wash., to Memphis.