Sappi Limited, a global leader in renewable woodfibre-based solutions and the bioeconomy, today announced that Kirk Ross (51) has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Sappi North America, effective January 1, 2027 after a hand-over period.
Kirk Ross, who currently serves as Vice President Manufacturing for Sappi North America, will succeed Mike Haws (63), who will retire in February 2027 following a distinguished 40-year career in the pulp and paper industry, including 14 years with Sappi and seven years as President and CEO of Sappi North America.
Commenting on the retirement, Steve Binnie, Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Limited, said:
“I would like to thank Mike for his outstanding service and leadership throughout his career and particularly during his time with Sappi. His tenure was marked by several significant achievements, including the successful integration of the Matane Pulp Mill, guiding the North American business through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and restoring the business to record profitability in 2021 and 2022.
Under his leadership, Sappi North America also developed and implemented the strategic conversion of paper machine no. 2 (PM2) at Somerset Mill, a transformative investment aligned with Sappi’s Thrive strategy and our vision for long-term growth.”
Kirk Ross brings nearly three decades of industry experience and two decades of leadership within Sappi to his new role. Since being appointed Vice President Manufacturing in July 2025, he has led manufacturing operations across Sappi North America.
Prior to this role, Kirk served as Project Director for Project Elevate, the conversion and expansion of Somerset Mill’s PM2 to produce packaging-grade products. During his career with Sappi, he has also held several senior leadership positions, including Director of Marketing and Brand Management, Director of Research and Development, and Director of Manufacturing Services.
Commenting on the appointment, Steve Binnie said:
“I am pleased that we are able to ensure a seamless leadership transition from Mike Haws to Kirk Ross. Over the course of his career, Kirk has developed a unique combination of business, technical, manufacturing, and commercial expertise. He has played a significant role in shaping and executing Sappi’s Thrive strategy and has been instrumental in advancing our investments in packaging and speciality papers products in North America.
I am confident that under his leadership, Sappi North America is well positioned to build on its strong foundation and continue creating value for customers, employees, communities, and shareholders.”
Steve Binnie added:
“This appointment reflects the strength of Sappi’s succession planning process and demonstrates our commitment to leadership continuity, organisational stability, and long-term success.”
Kirk holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maine as a UMaine Pulp and Paper Foundation scholarship recipient and participated in the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program in 2024.