Sappi North America: Kirk Ross Appointed as New President and CEO
Kirk Ross will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of Sappi North America on January 1, 2027, succeeding Mike Haws, who will leave the group in February 2027 following a 40-year career in the pulp and paper industry.
Leadership Transition at Sappi North America
The executive appointment brings an industry veteran of almost thirty years into the top leadership position for the regional division. Ross currently serves as Vice President Manufacturing for Sappi North America, a post he has held since July 2025.
His tenure within the company spans roughly twenty years. During that time, he served as Director of Marketing and Brand Management, Director of Research and Development, and Director of Manufacturing Services.
Steve Binnie, Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Limited, noted that the selection reflects the group’s succession planning process. The move is designed to maintain continuity in leadership and organizational stability across North American operations.
The Career Track of Kirk Ross
Ross brings direct operational experience to his upcoming CEO tenure. He previously managed the conversion and expansion of the PM2 paper machine at the Somerset Mill as Project Director for Project Elevate, an initiative focused on packaging production.
His technical background includes a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maine, supported by a scholarship from the UMaine Pulp and Paper Foundation. In 2024, he participated in an Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School.
That combination of technical oversight and commercial background positions him to manage ongoing shifts in the regional market.
Four Decades of Industry Service by Mike Haws
Outgoing President and CEO Mike Haws concludes a 40-year career in the sector, including 14 years at Sappi and seven years leading the North American division. Haws, 63, reached several major operational milestones during his tenure.
His leadership period included the integration of the Matane Pulp Mill and managing the company through the COVID-19 pandemic. He also oversaw the strategic PM2 machine conversion project at the Somerset facility.
The company structured the handover as a gradual transition to ensure organizational continuity.
Ross Manages Renewable Wood Fiber and Packaging Innovation
The leadership change aligns with Sappi’s broader corporate strategy, known as Thrive, which emphasizes renewable wood fiber solutions, circular economy principles, and packaging innovation. The global parent company operates production facilities across three continents and sells goods in over 150 countries, utilizing wood fibers from sustainably managed forests and internal bioenergy generation.
As incoming chief executive, Ross will manage the ongoing development of specialty papers, packaging materials, and industrial transformation initiatives across the regional business.