RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, has named Gary McGann, Chief Executive Officer of the Smurfit Kappa Group, as the 2014 European CEO of the Year. The award will be presented during RISI's European Pulp & Paper Conference in Prague, Czech Republic, March 10-12, 2014.
McGann was nominated by a group of investment analysts and portfolio managers covering the European and global pulp and paper industry. The criteria for nomination include leadership, vision and strategic accomplishment.
McGann was selected from the nominees for a number of reasons. One analyst commented, "McGann has shown commitment to the long-term strategy and has not wavered—he has proved himself to be a steady hand at the helm." Another said, "Last year was the year that the Smurfit Kappa Group delivered as a business for a number of reasons, profitability, successful integration of acquisitions and fantastic shareholder value."
The Smurfit Kappa Group operates in 32 countries, 21 in Europe and 11 in the Americas. An integrated producer, the group has around 41,000 employees and sales last year were Euro 7.3 billion ($9.2 billion).
Before joining the Jefferson Smurfit Group in 1998, McGann was Group CEO of Aer Lingus, CEO of Gilbeys of Ireland and prior to that, group financial controller of Ericsson Ireland.
McGann is chairman of Aon Ireland, is a director of United Drug plc, a director of IBEC (Irish Business and Employers' Confederation), and a director of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. He is also a member of the ERT (European Round Table of Industrialists) and the incoming chairman of CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries).
RISI organizes four regional CEO awards each year in Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America, which are handed out to the winners at the regional RISI conferences. RISI also presents the Global CEO of the Year award during the annual PPI Awards event.
Previous European CEO of the Year winners are Peter Oswald, Mondi Europe & International in 2013; Miles Roberts, DS Smith in 2012; Jussi Pesonen, UPM in 2011; Jouko Karvinen, Stora Enso in 2010; Christian Rynning-Tønnesen of Norske Skog in 2009; Jouko Karvinen, Stora Enso in 2008; and UPM's Jussi Pesonen in 2007.
