Business News
ABITIBIBOWATER ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE TEAM STRUCTURE
Friday 17. July 2009 - AbitibiBowater announced today, as part of the Company's ongoing comprehensive restructuring, that the organization of executive responsibilities has been reviewed and streamlined. The new, leaner structure will provide for enhanced efficiency and reduced costs.
“This is the right structure to lead us through both restructuring and emergence from creditor protection,” stated David J. Paterson, President and Chief and Executive Officer. “As we progress through our comprehensive restructuring and filings, AbitibiBowater will continue to explore options to further reduce costs and enhance productivity, including the reduction of SG A costs at Head Office.”
A functional approach was taken in designing the new Executive Team,
which will be comprised of five (5) executives reporting to David J.
Paterson:
– Alain Grandmont, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Supply
Chain, will take on a new role that merges the Company’s human
resources and supply chain functions.
– William G. Harvey, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, will continue to oversee AbitibiBowater’s finance and
corporate development functions.
– Yves Laflamme, Senior Vice President, Wood Products, will continue to
lead the Company’s woodland and sawmill operations, wood products sales
and wood fiber sourcing.
– Pierre Rougeau, Executive Vice President, Operations and Sales, will
now lead operations and sales for both the Commercial Printing Papers
and Newsprint divisions.
– Jacques P. Vachon, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief
Legal Officer, will continue to have responsibility for overseeing the
Company’s Legal and other corporate functions.
The appointments announced today are effective immediately. Also, as previously announced, Bruce K. Robertson will serve as Chief Restructuring Officer and work closely with the Executive Team. His primary responsibility will be to support Company efforts in the restructuring process stemming from AbitibiBowater’s creditor protection filings.