We also expect that youll find career and professional development opportunities that didnt
exist previously.
Now, along with this video message, we have also sent all employees a written message that describes the structure for the new company,
including the new Executive Leadership Team or ELT.
As you can see, the new ELT has a combination of leaders from both organizations in leadership roles.
Choosing leaders for key roles is so difficult when there is so much talent and passion on each side but we are pleased to share the following information with all of you.
Please join me in congratulating the following individuals who will take on key roles in the combined company after closing: Andy Wamser, as Chief Financial
Officer; Ricardo Nunez as General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, Mike Rickheim, as Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer; Sarma Malladi as Chief Information Officer, and Natalie Poteran, (new to both Neenah and SWM) as
Chief Transformation Officer.
In the next few weeks, these leaders will get to know the talented individuals in their groups and make decisions about how
to staff each in the new company. We will share these decisions with the individuals in the function first, and then we will share with all employees as we move closer to the merger close.
I want to thank the leaders from both teams who will be leaving when we finalize the merger. Both SWM and Neenah have very strong, capable, and effective
leaders. These were very difficult decisions. I know Jeff joins me in thanking them for all they have done for their company and team over the past years.
Now, lets talk about an exciting part of our new organizational structure the operating side. As you have seen, we have established a new Chief
Operating Officer or COO role. And we have asked Omar Hoek, SWMs EVP for Engineered Papers, to step into that role for our new company.
During our
planning conversations, it became clear that a dedicated leader responsible for working closely with each business unit leader would create the needed connections across our different business units, operating functions and manufacturing locations.
Under Omars leadership, our teams will continue to focus on their key market segments and solutions but will naturally become closer to other parts
of the larger organization driving collaboration, creativity, and efficiency.
This is a really big role and I am excited to have someone with
Omars experience and background in this key position.
Im also very pleased to announce that Jason Free will be assuming the role of SVP,
Operations reporting to Omar. Together, they will work to ensure we are maximizing our capabilities and leveraging our scale to drive value for our customers across all of our facilities.
The new business will focus external reporting or how we discuss our business results with investors around two segments: Advanced Technical
Materials and Fiber Based Solutions. However, internally we will organize our businesses into seven individual units under Omar.
Each of these businesses
is built around an exciting segment opportunity or a key product set that in most cases corresponds to a growth platform, or to a high-margin, well-established opportunity.
Our new company will continue to deliver premium papers and packaging and we will merge our Advanced and Natural Fibers business, led by Fabrice Werner, to
align with the specialty paper and packaging part of the company. I am excited about the opportunity to create new products with our shared capabilities that provide sustainable alternatives to the market. Kingsley Shannon will lead this business
unit, and have P&L leaders for commercial print, consumer products, premium packaging, digital transfer paper, and Alternative Natural Fibers.
We
will also continue to serve the tobacco industry with a variety of fiber-based solutions and continue to partner with our customers to help them meet their sustainability goals with unique and safety enhanced products. I am very happy to tell you
that Katrin Hanske will continue in her role leading this group.
Our filtration business, which will combine elements from both SWM and Neenah, is a key
growth platform for us and together we will provide even more end-to-end filtration solutions for cleaner air, water and industrial processes. This is one of our fastest
growing and highest margin business units and one where we believe we will have significant revenue opportunities. I am pleased to say that Christoph Stenzel will lead this business unit.
Our Healthcare and Wellness portfolio will deliver essential products for advanced wound care, for wellness consumer products, and for items found in our
homes, like finger bandages. This is a solid business backed by strong macro trends, and we are fortunate to have John Petreanu leading this part of our organization.