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Rayonier names new leaders for high-purity cellulose, pulp divisions

Rayonier Advanced Materials has announced leadership changes in its high-purity cellulose segment and pulp business.

Dr. Christoph Koenig will assume responsibility for all high-purity cellulose sales, while Tomas Fernandez will assume responsibility for marketing and customer service, sustainability, high-yield pulp and lignin sales, research and development, and other strategic growth initiatives.

Koenig and Tomas Fernandez each bring over 25 years of experience in business leadership, sales and research and development in the specialty chemical industry.

Koenig joined Rayonier Advanced Materials in 2020 after a 15-year career at Albemarle, where he most recently held positions of global business director and global sales director in the catalysts business unit. Prior to Albemarle, he worked for Felix Boettcher, a supplier to the printing industry in Germany. Koenig earned his PhD from University of Cologne in organic chemistry.

Fernandez joined Rayonier Advanced Materials in 2018 after working with Albemarle as the global business unit leader in their performance catalyst solutions business, and for 18 years with the Dow Chemical Company.

He also previously worked for W.R. Grace and Hilti. Fernandez earned his degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and an executive MBA from Rice University.