direct/ Sappi appoints Berry Wiersum as Chief Executive Officer of its European operations

Sappi, the world´s leading producer of coated fine paper, today announced that Berry Wiersum (51) has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Fine Paper Europe (SFPE). Berry Wiersum replaces Wolfgang Pfarl (62), who will be retiring. Mr Wiersum joins Sappi Fine Paper Europe on 15 January 2007 and will work with Mr Pfarl for a familiarisation period until the end of March 2007 when he will take over as Chief Executive of SFPE.

Mr Wiersum started his career at ICI Fibres, became President of Amoco Fabrics (Europe), then the President of Amoco Chemicals (Europe), and when Amoco was taken over by BP, he moved to BP to assist with the integration of the two groups in Europe. He subsequently left BP and joined Pechiney SA in France and ran the CEBAL packaging division until he was recruited as Managing Director of the Packaging division of Kappa Packaging BV and member of the Management Board responsible for paper manufacture and packaging in the Kappa group. He holds a Master of Arts degree with Combined Honours in Mediaeval and Modern History and subsidiaries in French and Music from the University of St Andrews in the UK.

Commenting on his appointment Eugene van As, Chairman of Sappi Limited said:

"Berry Wiersum is a seasoned executive with many years´ experience in the process and manufacturing industry. He comes to Sappi with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to drive our European business forward in the years to come."

Van As also expressed his appreciation for the contribution of outgoing Chief Executive of SFPE, Wolfgang Pfarl: "Wolfgang Pfarl has made an enormous contribution to the paper industry in Europe through Leykam Mürztaler, then KNP Leykam, and subsequently Sappi where he helped create the leading coated paper producer in Europe. His legendary courtesy and friendship to customers and employees alike will long be remembered."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Abbreviated CV of Mr Berry Wiersum:

2006- Present Private company (Netherlands) - professional services, consultant on mergers and acquisitions

2000-2005 KAPPA PACKAGING BV, Eindhoven (European leader in kraft and recycled paper, integrated downstream into corrugated and solid board packaging)

Managing Director Packaging
Member Management Board

1999-2000 PECHINEY SA, Paris (Major global producer of plastic and aluminium tubes and aerosols for cosmetics industry)

Managing Director of CEBAL division

1997-1999 AMOCO CHEMICALS (EUROPE) S.A., Geneva (Mid-size chemical group specializing in polymers and intermediates. World leader in PTA)

President
Member Amoco Chemicals Business Team

1994-1996 AMOCO FABRICS (EUROPE), Amstelveen (Leading producer carpet backing and non-wovens for hygiene industry)

President

1979-1993 ICI FIBRES LTD., Harrogate, various positions including:

1991-1993 Business Manager Nylon Textile Filament

1987-1991 Trade Sector Manager, Weaving & Nylon Staple

1985-1987 Sales Manager ICI Switzerland

Mr Wiersum is married with four children and speaks fluent Dutch, English, German and French.

Issued by:

Brunswick on behalf of Sappi Limited
Tel +27 (0) 11 268 5750 (South Africa)
Tel +44 (0) 207 404 5959 (London)

For further information:

André Oberholzer
Group Head Corporate Affairs
Sappi Limited, Johannesburg
Tel +27 (0) 11 407 8044
Fax +27 (0) 11 403 8236
Mobile +27 (0) 83 235 2973
Andre.Oberholzer@sappi.com

Liesl Weber
Corporate Communications Manager
Sappi Fine Paper Europe
Tel +32 (0)2 676 9784
Fax +32 (0)2 676 9669
Mobile +32 (0)495 588 784
Liesl.Weber@sappi.com

About Sappi Limited

A global leader in the pulp and paper industry, Sappi Limited (NYSE, JSE, LSE), headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, conducts its business through two business units, Sappi Fine Paper and Sappi Forest Products. Sappi Fine Paper, operating in Europe, North America and South Africa, produces a wide range of coated fine paper brands with an international reputation for quality and innovation. The company also produces a range of uncoated graphic and business papers, coated and uncoated specialty papers, as well as casting release papers. Sappi Forest Products owns or manages approximately 540,000 hectares of plantations through Sappi Forests; is a leading Southern African fully integrated pulp, packaging paper and newsprint business through Sappi Kraft ; and is the world´s leading producer of chemical cellulose used in the manufacture of viscose fibre through Sappi Saiccor; Sappi Trading, based in Hong Kong, operates a trading network for the international sales and distribution of the products of the two divisions outside their core operation regions. Sappi has manufacturing operations in nine countries on four continents, sales offices in some 50 countries and customers in over 100 countries around the world.

About Sappi Fine Paper Europe

Sappi Fine Paper Europe is a division of Sappi Limited, a global leader in the pulp and paper industry. Sappi Fine Paper Europe brands include Magno, HannoArt, Presto and Royal graphic papers, as well as Algro, Leine and Parade speciality labelling and packaging papers. Customers worldwide specify these for the highest quality publishing, promotional, labelling and packaging applications.

For more information visit www.sappi.com



The announcement distributed by directnews.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

This release was published on openPR.