SAP - Sappi - Sappi Appoints Berry Wiersum As Chief Executive

SAP - Sappi - Sappi Appoints Berry Wiersum As Chief Executive                   
              Officer Of Its European Operations                                
Sappi Limited                                                                   
(Registration number 1936/008963/06)                                            
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
Share code: SAP & ISIN: ZAE000006284)                                           
("Sappi" or the "Company")                                                      
Sappi appoints Berry Wiersum as Chief Executive Officer of its European         
operations                                                                      
Sappi, the world`s leading producer of coated fine paper, today announced       
that Berry Wiersum (51) has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Sappi     
Fine Paper Europe (SFPE). Berry Wiersum replaces Wolfgang Pfarl (62), who       
will be retiring. Mr Wiersum joins Sappi Fine Paper Europe on 15 January        
2007 and will work with Mr Pfarl for a familiarisation period until the end     
of March 2007 when he will take over as Chief Executive of SFPE.                
Mr Wiersum started his career at ICI Fibres, became President of Amoco          
Fabrics (Europe), then the President of Amoco Chemicals (Europe), and when      
Amoco was taken over by BP, he moved to BP to assist with the integration       
of the two groups in Europe.  He subsequently left BP and joined Pechiney       
S.A. in France and ran the CEBAL packaging division until he was recruited      
as Managing Director of the Packaging division of Kappa Packaging BV and        
member of the Management Board responsible for paper manufacture and            
packaging in the Kappa group.  He holds a Master of Arts degree with            
Combined Honours in Mediaeval and Modern History and subsidiaries in French     
and Music from the University of St Andrews in the UK.                          
Commenting on his appointment Eugene van As, Chairman of Sappi Limited          
said:                                                                           
"Berry Wiersum is a seasoned executive with many years` experience in the       
process and manufacturing industry.  He comes to Sappi with a great deal of     
energy and enthusiasm to drive our European business forward in the years       
to come."                                                                       
Van As also expressed his appreciation for the contribution of outgoing         
Chief Executive of SFPE, Wolfgang Pfarl: "Wolfgang Pfarl has made an            
enormous contribution to the paper industry in Europe through Leykam            
Murztaler, then KNP Leykam, and subsequently Sappi where he helped create       
the leading coated paper producer in Europe.  His legendary courtesy and        
friendship to customers and employees alike will long be remembered."           
Abbreviated CV of Mr Berry Wiersum:                                             
2006- Present       Private company (Netherlands) - professional services,      
consultant on mergers and acquisitions                       

2000-2005           SMURFIT KAPPA PACKAGING B.V., Helmond (European leader      
                   in kraft and recycled paper, integrated downstream into      
                   corrugated and solid board packaging)                        
Managing Director Packaging                                  

                   Member Management Board                                      
1999-2000           PECHINEY S.A., Paris (Major global producer of plastic      
                   and aluminium tubes and aerosols for cosmetics               
industry)                                                    

                   Managing Director of CEBAL division                          
1997-1999           AMOCO CHEMICALS (EUROPE) S.A., Geneva (Mid size             
                   chemical group specializing in polymers and                  
intermediates. World leader in PTA)                          

                   President                                                    
                   Member Amoco Chemicals Business Team                         
1994-1996           AMOCO FABRICS (EUROPE), Amstelveen (Leading producer        
carpet backing and non-wovens for hygiene industry)          

                   President                                                    
1979-1993           ICI FIBRES LTD., Harrogate, various positions               
including:                                                                      
1991-1993           Business Manager Nylon Textile Filament                     
1987-1991           Trade Sector Manager, Weaving & Nylon Staple                
                   Sales Manager ICI Switzerland                                
Johannesburg                                                                    
8 January 2007                                                                  
Sponsor :  UBS Warburg                                                          
Date: 08/01/2007 14:00:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department.