Catrin Gustavsson has been appointed head of innovation and new business at Södra, Sweden. She will succeed Laila Rogestedt and assume her new position on Aug. 1, 2017. Gustavsson will be a member of Södra Group Senior Management and report to the President and CEO Lars Idermark.

Gustavsson holds a M.S. degree in chemical engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, and a PhD degree in pulp technology from the Royal Institute of Technology. She is currently head of the process engineering department at Södra’s pulp mill at Värö, outside of Varberg. She has been active in the paper and pulp industry since 1999—both nationally and internationally—and held senior positions in production and technology development at BillerudKorsnäs, Kvaerner Pulping, and Stora Enso.

"I am very pleased that we have recruited Catrin Gustavsson internally. Innovation and New Business is a strategic area for Södra’s future, and the unit is responsible for our work with product and process care in our existing market for pulp and sawn wood products, and for developing new products and applications for wood as a raw material," said CEO Lars Idermark.

"In a world that is changing at an increasingly faster pace and with major global challenges, raw material from the forest offers countless and unique opportunities. I am pleased and proud to be entrusted with leadership of Innovation and New Business. Together with all of my talented colleagues at Södra, the continued development of innovation activities, both internally and in partnership with external stakeholders, will be interesting and motivating," said Gustavsson.

As previously announced, Laila Rogestedt will be leaving Södra in mid-2017.