Smurfit Kappa Receives Industry’s Global CEO of the Year Award

SKG.I SKG.L

Smurfit Kappa Group (’SKG’ or the ‘Group’) one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of paper-based packaging products with operations in Europe and the Americas, is pleased to announce that Gary McGann, recently retired Group Chief Executive Officer, has been named as RISI’s PPI 2015 Global CEO of the Year. RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry and presented the award to Mr McGann at their North American Conference on 28 September, in the InterContinental Hotel in Chicago.

RISI’s PPI Awards are the only global awards that are dedicated to recognising the achievements of companies, mills and individuals in the pulp and paper sector. Michael Smurfit, former CEO of Jefferson Smurfit Group, and Chairman of Smurfit Kappa, received RISI’s inaugural Global CEO of the Year Award in 1999.

Mr McGann, as Group CEO, received RISI’s European CEO of the Year Award in 2014 and 2015.

At the event in the InterContinental Hotel in Chicago, Smurfit Kappa also won the ‘Innovation in Specialty Papers’ Award and was a finalist in the following award categories:

• Business Strategy
• Environmental Strategy
• Innovation in Sustainable Packaging; and,
• Water Efficiency.

Liam O’ Mahony, Chairman of Smurfit Kappa Group commented: "It is an honour for the Group to be recognised by RISI. On behalf of the Board, I would like to congratulate Gary and his team on this achievement.”

Tony Smurfit, Group CEO, added: "Smurfit Kappa is a significantly strengthened business today. We are grateful for Gary’s substantial contribution to the Group’s growth and development. SKG’s industry-leading position today is testament to Gary’s leadership over the last 13 years.”

ENDS

About Smurfit Kappa

Smurfit Kappa is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, with around 43,000 employees in approximately 350 production sites across 33 countries and with revenue of €8.1 billion in 2014. We are located in 21 countries in Europe, and 12 in the Americas. We are the only large-scale pan-regional player in Latin America.

With our pro-active team we relentlessly use our extensive experience and expertise, supported by our scale, to open up opportunities for our customers. We collaborate with forward thinking customers by sharing superior product knowledge, market understanding and insights in packaging trends to ensure business success in their markets. We have an unrivalled portfolio of paper-packaging solutions, which is constantly updated with our market-leading innovations. This is enhanced through the benefits of our integration, with optimal paper design, logistics, timeliness of service, and our packaging plants sourcing most of their raw materials from our own paper mills. Our products, which are 100% renewable and produced sustainably, improve the environmental footprint of our customers.

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