SAPPI LIMITED - Sappi appoints Marco Eikelenboom as Chief Executive Officer of its European operations

Sappi appoints Marco Eikelenboom as Chief Executive Officer of its European operations

Sappi Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number: 1936/008963/06
JSE share code: SAP
ISIN code: ZAE000006284
("Sappi" or the "Company")



03 December 2020

Sappi appoints Marco Eikelenboom as Chief Executive Officer of its European
operations

Sappi Limited, a global leader in dissolving wood pulp, as well as graphic, packaging and
speciality papers and biomaterials, today announced that Marco Eikelenboom (53), currently
Vice President Marketing and Sales at Sappi Europe, has been appointed as CEO of Sappi
Europe as from 01 April 2021. Marco Eikelenboom succeeds Berry Wiersum (65), who will
retire at the end of March 2021. Berry Wiersum has been CEO of Sappi Europe for 14
years.

Steve Binnie, Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Limited commenting on the retirement of Berry
Wiersum, said:

“I would like to thank Berry for his significant service to Sappi during his 14 years with the
company and for the support he has shown me as CEO. He is an outstanding leader both for
the company and for the industry. His tenure saw massive changes as we made significant
acquisitions, invested in machine rebuilds, restructured and refocused the business, all to
ensure that Sappi could respond to and take advantage of the changes which were
occurring. Most recently he also led Sappi Europe’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
He and his team responded to each one with alacrity.”

“When I was appointed CEO in 2014, Berry provided me with invaluable support, and he was
a member of the executive committee that developed and rolled out our debt reduction
strategy through to 2012 as well as our Vision2020 and now our Thrive25 business
strategies.”

Marco Eikelenboom joined KNP in 1992. After KNP Leykam was acquired by Sappi in 1997,
Marco was appointed Managing Director of Sappi Benelux in 1998. In 2002 he transferred to
Sappi Southern Africa as Marketing Director for the Fine Paper division, returning to Sappi
Europe in 2004 as Director Marketing & Sales for Graphic Papers. In 2009 he was promoted
to Vice President Marketing & Sales for Graphic Papers. Marco has overseen numerous
projects which have helped successfully torestructure and reposition Sappi’s Graphic Papers
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business in Europe, including a new go-to-market strategy and heightened levels of
commercial service resulting in increased customer preference and retention. As a member
of the European Management team he is fully engaged in the ongoing restructuring and
refocusing of Sappi’s European operations.

On the appointment of Marco Eikelenboom, Steve Binnie said:

“I am pleased that we are able to ensure a smooth transition in leadership from Berry to
Marco. Marco is an experienced leader who has been integral to the development and
execution of Sappi’s strategy and the investments and decisions we have made in Europe to
ensure we maintain our graphic papers leadership while growing our packaging and
specialities businesses. I am confident that under Marco’s leadership the business will take
full advantage of the exciting opportunities for the pulp and paper industry in Europe and
across their export markets.

“The appointment is testimony to the success of Sappi’s strong succession planning
processes and the importance we place on stability and continuity during any such
leadership transition.”

Marco Eikelenboom, a Dutch citizen, holds a MBA from Erasmus University Rotterdam
(Netherlands) and has undertaken various executive education programmes including at,
IMD, MIT Sloane/IMD and INSEAD.

Sponsor: UBS South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Date: 03-12-2020 05:40:00
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