Sappi - Appoints new management team for Southern African businesses

Sappi - Appoints new management team for Southern African businesses            
Sappi Limited                                                                   
(Registration number 1936/008963/06)                                            
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
Share code: SAP & ISIN: ZAE000006284)                                           
("Sappi" or the "Company")                                                      
27 November 2006                                                                
Sappi appoints new management team for Southern African businesses              
Sappi, the global pulp and paper group, today announced wide ranging changes and
promotions at its Southern African businesses.                                  
Andre Wagenaar (61), the current Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Forest        
Products is due to retire at the end of the year and will be replaced by Jan    
Labuschagne (46), currently the Finance Director of Sappi Forest Products. A    
Chartered Accountant, he has been with Sappi since 1992 serving the group in    
various senior management roles including as finance director of Sappi Timber   
Industries and accounting director at Sappi Fine Paper Europe in Brussels.      
Following on Jan Labuschagne"s appointment, a number of other management changes
have been made. All appointments occur as from 01 January 2007.                 
The new Finance Director of Sappi Forest Products is Colin Mowatt (49),         
currently the Financial and Commercial Director of Sappi Saiccor. He is a       
Chartered Accountant and has been with Sappi for 13 years. He also holds a MBL  
from UNISA.                                                                     
Albert Lubbe (58), becomes Managing Director of Sappi Kraft, moving from his    
current role as Managing Director of Sappi Fine Paper South Africa. Sappi"s     
Usutu operations in Swaziland will also fall under his control. He has been with
the group in his current role since 1997. He holds a GCC (Mechanical Engineers) 
and has completed the Advanced Executive Programme from UNISA.                  
Dinga Mncube (46), currently the Managing Director of Sappi Forests, becomes the
Managing Director of Sappi Fine Paper South Africa. He will also form part of   
Sappi"s global fine paper management team. He has been with Sappi for 13 years  
and holds a MSc in Forest Products and has completed the Executive Development  
Programme at WITS as well as the Senior Executive Programme at Harvard.         
Hendrik de Jongh (51), the current Fibre Supply Director of Sappi Forests and   
General Manager of Sappi Usutu in Swaziland becomes the Managing Director of    
Sappi Forests. He has been with Sappi for 18 years and holds a GCC (Electrical) 
and a Post-graduate Management Diploma from Henley.                             
Commenting on the appointments made, Sappi chairman Eugene van As, said today:  
"Jan Labuschagne has an intimate knowledge of the Southern African businesses   
and will be able to lead the combined effort of his executive team to deliver   
strong cash flow and growth. He has an experienced team with a proven track     
record. We are very happy that we have been able to make these appointments from
within the group"s existing management".                                        
ENDS                                                                            
NOTES TO EDITORS :                                                              
Additional information on each appointment:                                     
Jan Labuschagne (46), BCom Hons CA (SA)                                         
1985 joined Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) as project accountant,     
later promoted to senior project coordinator                                    
1989 established own financial consulting business                              
1992 joined Sappi as divisional financial controller                            
1996 promote to finance director of Sappi Timber Industries                     
1997 seconded to Sappi Fine Paper Europe head office in Brussels as accounting  
director                                                                        
2002 promoted to current position as finance director of Sappi Forest Products  
He is a board member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants,   
chairman of the commerce and industry sub-committee and member of the CSI sub-  
committee                                                                       
Colin Mowatt (49), BCom Acc CA (SA), Executive Development Programme (GIBS), MBL
(UNISA)                                                                         
1984 joined Corobrik as financial accountant                                    
1987 appointed at Malbak as Group Management Accountant                         
1989 moved to Austen Safe Co as Finance Director                                
1993 joined Sappi Forests as group financial controller                         
1996 promoted to current role as Financial and Commercial Director of Sappi     
Saiccor                                                                         
Albert Lubbe (58), NDip Tech, GCC (Mechanical Engineers), Fin Dip, Advanced     
Executive Programme (UNISA)                                                     
1978 Assistant Manager at Amcoal                                                
1978 to 1997 SAB, majority as General Manager                                   
1997 joined Sappi in current position as Managing Director Sappi Fine Paper     
South Africa                                                                    
He is chairman of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA)   
Dinga Mncube (46), Dip (Forestry), BSc (Forest Management), MSc (Forest         
Products) from the University of Idaho (USA), Executive Development Programme   
(WITS), Senior Executive Programme (Harvard)                                    
1981 Production and Quality Controller at Suncrush Bottling Company (Coca Cola) 
1986 Forester for KwaZulu Government                                            
1993 joined Sappi, held various positions within Sappi Forests and Sappi Kraft  
1996 promoted to General Manager Forestry - Zululand region                     
2000 promoted to General Manager Sappi Forests                                  
2004 promoted to current position as Managing Director of Sappi Forests         
He is also the chairman of the National Forest Advisory Council                 
Hendrik de Jongh (51), GCC (Electrical), EDP, Post-graduate Management Diploma  
(Henley)                                                                        
1977 joined Sasol in the electrical engineering department                      
1988 joined Sappi                                                               
1996 promoted to Operations Director Sappi Timber Industries                    
2000 promoted to General Manager Sappi Timber Industries                        
2001 took up current position as Timber Supply Director of Sappi Forests        
2006 concurrently appointed General Manager of Sappi Usutu in Swaziland         
More about Sappi                                                                
Sappi is the world"s leading producer of coated fine paper used in the          
production of glossy magazines, calendars, annual reports and brochures. Whilst 
this business represents approximately two-thirds of Sappi"s total sales, the   
company also has significant businesses in pulp, coated speciality paper,       
packaging grades and uncoated fine paper. Sappi Forest Products, the forests,   
pulp, packaging and newsprint business based in South Africa, is also the       
world"s largest producer of chemical cellulose (dissolving pulp) used in the    
manufacture of viscose staple fibre and consumer and pharmaceutical products.   
Sappi is a global company with over 15,000 employees and production facilities  
in nine countries, on four continents and customers in over 100 countries.      
The group is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sappi is listed on JSE
Limited (SAP), the New York Stock Exchange (SPP) and the London Stock Exchange  
(SAZ).                                                                          
Please visit www.sappi.com                                                      
Issued by:                                                                      
Brunswick Group LLP on behalf of Sappi                                          
Tel +27 (0) 11 268 5750 (Johannesburg)                                          
Tel +44 (0) 207 404 5959 (London)                                               
For further information:                                                        
Andre F Oberholzer                                                              
Group Head Corporate Affairs                                                    
Sappi Limited (Reg No 1936/008963/06)                                           
Tel       +27 (0)11 407 8044                                                    
Fax       +27 (0)11 403 8236                                                    
Mobile    +27 (0)83 235 2973                                                    
andre.oberholzer@sappi.com                                                      
Date: 28/11/2006 07:34:04 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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