STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 12, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Group's European tissue operations are being combined into a single business group. Managers appointed for the new Americas and Asia business Groups.
Consumer and AFH tissue
In order to further optimize operations within the European tissue operations, with emphasis on production and logistics, the European Consumer Tissue and AFH Tissue business groups will be combined in the European Tissue business group. The combined operations will have annual sales of about SEK 20 billion, with 8.800 employees, and, accordingly, becomes the largest hygiene products group within the SCA Group. Ole Terland (45), currently head of the Consumer Tissue business group, has been named President of the new business group. Operations will continue to be managed in the future from Munich, Germany.
Americas and Asia
As announced previously, following a number of recent acquisitions SCA's operations outside Europe are being redistributed at year-end between the expanded Americas (currently North America) business group and the new Asia business group.
The area of responsibility for the Americas business group will be expanded to also include the operations in Central and South America. The SCA Group Executive Vice President Michael Bertorp (55), will serve as the new President of the business group until further notice, with Scott Jungles (45), currently head of Hygiene Growth Markets, as deputy. The business group's total sale for partly and fully owned companies will amount to about SEK 13 billion, with 11.000 employees. The current head of operations in North America, Colin Williams (62), will return to Europe for family reasons and will consequently retire during next year. The operations will continued to be managed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the US.
The Asia business group will comprise SCA's hygiene products and packaging operations in Asia and Australasia. With head office in Shanghai, China, Rijk Schipper (52) has been named President of the business group. Schipper has been manager of the European AFH Tissue business group since 2000 and has held various positions within SCA's hygiene products business since 1980. The business group's annual sales will amount to about SEK 5 billion, with 6.500 employees.
Stockholm, 12 November 2004 SVENSKA CELLULOSA AKTIEBOLAGET SCA (publ) Communications and Investor Relations
For further information, please contact: Jan Astrom, President and CEO. +46 70-586 07 01. Peter Nyquist, Senior Vice President Communications and Investor Relations. +46 70-575 29 06.
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