Features Research & Innovation
People (December 01, 2001)

The Forest Products Association of Canada has appointed Avrim Lazar as its president and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2002. He succeeds Lise Lachapelle, who served seven years. FPAC expects to move its offices to Ottawa from Montreal.

Vancouver-based NorskeCanada announced several changes to its board of directors. Added to he board are Trevor Johnstone, chairman of Tricor Pacific Capital Inc.; Keith Purchase, former CEO of Timberwest Forest Products Ltd.; Jan Oksum, senior vice-president and deputy CEO of Norske Skog; and Tom Stephens, deputy chairman of the board. Resigning from the board is Jan Kildal, senior vice-president and chief financial officer of Norske Skog.

Slocan Forest Products Ltd., Richmond, BC, has reported that Ike K. Barber will step down as chairman of the board on February 15, 2002. Barber, who founded the company in 1978, will stay on as director.

Concert Industries Ltd., Vancouver, BC, has said that John McNicol, president, will leave the company on January 8, 2002. Other appointments include Don Habbick, treasurer; William Sweet, general manager of its US subsidiary, Concert ACI Inc.; Cheryl George, vice-president of sales and marketing; Ken Squires, vice-president, key accounts; and Steve Leptick, vice-president, customer care and technical support.

At the Swedish Pulp and Paper Research Institute (STFI) in Stockholm, Thomas Johannesson, president at the Lund Institute of Technology in Sweden, will succeed Olle Alsholm as CEO on January 1, 2002.

Forest Technology Group, an information-technology firm in Summerville, SC, has made the following appointments: Henry E. (Gene) Kodama, chief executive officer; J. Brian Fiacco, vice-president of technology development and online services; Guerry B. Doolittle, vice-president of marketing; and G. Ed. Muckenfuss, president.

Parsons & Whittemore, a market pulp producer in Rye Brook, NY, has hired George Vibien as vice-president of pulp sales.

Sonoco, Hartsville, SC, has promoted Kevin Bryans to division vice-president and managing director, Asia.

Paperloop, San Francisco, has named Ian Johnson as its CEO.

Leroy J. Barry, president and CEO of Madison Paper Industries, Madison, ME, has announced that E. Russell Drechsel will succeed him, effective January 1, 2002.

Adhesives Research Inc., Glen Rock, PA, has hired Roger Bolduc as the new technical sales specialist for the company’s splicing business unit in Canada.

Harris Group Inc., a consulting engineering firm in Seattle, WA, has added Charles A. (Chuck) Schultz as vice-president, forest industries, Midwest region.

The Johnson Corp., Three Rivers, MI, has named Carl Howe as its vice-president of corporate sales.

Great Northern Corp., Appleton, WI, has added Mike Cattanach as an account manager for the Southeastern US.