At Mercer, we understand that strong leadership is a key component of a successful workplace culture. From the top down, our management team leads with engagement, innovation, collaboration, and values. We are a company that embraces constant continuous improvement in the pursuit of excellence. Mercer’s leaders understand that the highest levels of competence and engagement of their teams result from a supportive environment that focuses on personal development, professionalism, and safety.
At Mercer, we work to inspire and lead our people in an environment focused on continuous improvement. We provide opportunities for people to grow within our organization – both personally and professionally. Our leaders are skilled communicators who lead with integrity and transparency. We recognize at the core of Mercer’s success is a strong team.
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Mercer
David M. Gandossi has served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and as a Director of Mercer since July 2015...
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David M. Gandossi has served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and as a Director of Mercer since July 2015. He served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary from 2003 to 2015. Mr. Gandossi’s previous roles include Chief Financial Officer and other senior executive positions with Formation Forest Products and Pacifica Papers Inc.
Mr. Gandossi is currently a Director of the Council of Forest Industries (COFI), the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Formation Forest Products, and Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA). His previous positions include Chair of the FPInnovations National Research Advisory Committee, Chair of the BC Pulp and Paper Task Force, and Chair of the BC Bio-economy Transformation Committee — each being collaborative efforts between government and industry stakeholders. Mr. Gandossi participated in the Pulp and Paper Advisory Committee to the BC Competition Council and was a member of BC’s Working Roundtable on Forestry.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. Mr. Gandossi also serves as a Member of the Environmental, Health, and Safety Committee.
Senior Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary
David K. Ure has served as Senior Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary since July 2015...
David K. Ure has served as Senior Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary since July 2015.
Prior to these roles, Mr. Ure had served as Senior Vice President Finance from 2013 to 2015 and Vice President and Controller from 2006 to 2010. Mr. Ure’s previous roles included Vice President, Finance of Sierra Wireless Inc. and Controller at various companies including Catalyst Paper Corp., Pacifica Papers Inc., and Trojan Lithograph Corp., as well as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Finlay Forest Industries Inc.
Mr. Ure has more than fifteen years of experience in the forest products industry. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. He currently serves on the boards of FPInnovations, Kids Brain Health Network, Semiahmoo House Society, and Peninsula Estates Housing Society.
Chief Operating Officer
Adolf Koppensteiner has served as our Chief Operating Officer since 2017, prior to which he was Managing Director Operations and Technical of Stendal...
Adolf Koppensteiner has served as our Chief Operating Officer since 2017, prior to which he was Managing Director, Operations and Technical of the Stendal mill since October 2013. He served as Mill Manager at the Rosenthal mill since joining Mercer in 2007. Previously, Mr. Koppensteiner served as Managing Director of Kvaerner Central Europe, where he was responsible for Sales and Service for fifteen years. His entire career has been in the pulp and paper industry, where he has held a variety of positions and gained significant experience in engineering, construction projects, and pulp mill start-ups, as well as in the development and optimization of operating processes.
Chief Information Officer
Christoph Grewe-Franze serves as Chief Information Officer for Mercer’s global operations. He comes with considerable expertise in technology...
Christoph Grewe-Franze serves as Chief Information Officer for Mercer’s global operations and comes with considerable expertise in technology infrastructure, applications, and operations. Mr. Grewe-Franze is the former Chief Information Officer of Schütte, a large German machining equipment manufacturer. He has held similar roles in a diverse list that includes Able Management GmbH, Weleda AG, and the Tengelmann Group. Mr. Grewe-Franze has also held numerous consulting roles for such companies as Centogene AG, Deutsches Milchkontor, Konica Minolta, Ruhrkohle AG, and Dennree.
Mr. Grewe-Franze has a degree in Economic Sciences from Bergische Universität, Wuppertal, Germany.
Vice President, Business Development
Wolfram Ridder has served as Vice President of Business Development since 2005. Prior to this, he served...
Wolfram Ridder has served as Vice President, Business Development since 2005. Prior to this, he served as Managing Director at our Stendal mill from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Ridder also served as Vice President Pulp Operations, Assistant to Chief Executive Officer from 1999 to 2005 and Assistant Managing Director of the Rosenthal mill from 1995 to 1998. Prior to joining Mercer, Mr. Ridder worked as a scientist for pulping technology development at the German Federal Research Center for Wood Science and Technology in Hamburg from 1988 to 1995.
Mr. Ridder holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Master of Wood Science and Forest Product Technology degree from Hamburg University.
Vice President, Corporate Development
Brian Merwin is Vice President, Corporate Development and has served in this and similar roles since 2009. Prior to this...
Brian Merwin is Vice President, Corporate Development and has served in this and similar roles since 2009. Prior to this and since joining Mercer in 2005 he served as Director, Strategic and Business Initiatives and Business Analyst.
Mr. Merwin holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. He has over 15 years of industry experience, including M&A, corporate development, strategy, capital projects, innovation, and business integration. He currently serves as a Director of Cariboo Pulp & Paper Company and as Chairman of Performance BioFilaments Inc.
Vice President, Sustainability & Innovation
Bill Adams serves as Vice President, Sustainability & Innovation for Mercer’s global operations. Bill has worked in...
Bill Adams serves as Vice President, Sustainability & Innovation for Mercer’s global operations. Mr. Adams has worked in a wide range of leadership roles in both Canada and the United States over the past 33 years, with his roles focused on engineering, manufacturing, and corporate development. These roles took place with Weyerhaeuser and Domtar before joining Canfor in 2014 where Bill served as the Sr. Director, Sustainability, Strategy & Innovation based in Vancouver. Prior to this role, Mr. Adams served as the Manager of Engineering & Strategy Planning at Domtar’s Kamloops mill in British Columbia.
Bill Adams is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA in International Management from APIU. He has been a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia since 1987.
Vice President, Controller
Richard Short has served as Vice President, Controller since February 2014. Prior to this, he served as Controller from November 2010 to...
Richard Short has served as Vice President, Controller since February 2014. Prior to this, he served as Controller from November 2010 to February 2014 and Director, Corporate Finance since joining Mercer in July 2007. His previous roles include Controller, Financial Reporting from 2006 to 2007 and Director, Corporate Finance from 2004 to 2006 with Catalyst Paper Corporation, and Assistant Controller at the Alderwoods Group Inc.
Mr. Short holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia.
Vice President, Treasurer
Genevieve Stannus serves as Vice President, Treasurer. She served as Treasurer from 2005 to 2020...
Genevieve Stannus serves as Vice President, Treasurer. She served as Treasurer from 2005 to 2020, prior to which she served as Senior Financial Analyst since joining Mercer in August 2003. Prior to her role at Mercer, Ms. Stannus held Senior Treasury Analyst positions with Catalyst Paper Corporation and Pacifica Papers Inc.
Ms. Stannus is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, Canada.
Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Logistics for Asia and North America
Eric X. Heine has served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Logistics for Asia and North America since June 2005...
Eric X. Heine has served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Logistics for Asia and North America since June 2005. Mr. Heine was previously Vice President, Pulp and International Paper Sales and Marketing for Domtar Inc. from 1999 to 2005.
Mr. Heine has extensive experience in the international pulp and paper industry, including developing strategic sales channels and market partners to build corporate brands. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry (Wood Science) from the University of Toronto.
Vice President, Pulp Sales and Marketing for Europe; Managing Director, Mercer Pulp Products
Uwe Bentlage has served as Vice President, Pulp Sales & Marketing as well as Managing Director of Mercer Pulp Sales...
Uwe Bentlage has served as Vice President, Pulp Sales & Marketing as well as Managing Director of Mercer Pulp Sales GmbH, Berlin since 2017. Before joining Mercer in 2004, he served as Director of Sales, Central Europe at Ekman, a leading Swedish trading house for pulp and paper. Mr. Bentlage started his career in 1994 in the forest industry as a sales manager at EGGER helping to expand the business to Eastern Europe and Russia as well as managing the PMI of acquired businesses.
Uwe Bentlage holds a degree in Business Administration from Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences.
Vice President, Pulp Sales and Marketing for Europe
Nils Hegerding has served as Vice President, Pulp Sales and Marketing since 2017. He has been working for Mercer since 2006 as a Sales Director...
Nils Hegerding has served as Vice President, Pulp Sales and Marketing since 2017. He has been working for Mercer since 2006 as a Sales Director. Prior to joining Mercer, he worked for GUSCO Handel, a pulp and paper agent in Hamburg.
Mr. Hegerding has close to 20 years’ experience in the sales of pulp, paper, pigments and fine chemicals in various markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Vice President, Health and Safety
Mark Goebel serves as Vice President, Health and Safety for Mercer International Inc. Mr. Goebel joined Mercer in 2016...
Mark Goebel serves as Vice President, Health and Safety for Mercer International Inc. Mr. Goebel joined Mercer in 2016 as the Health and Safety Manager of the Celgar Mill and more recently served as Director, Health and Safety overseeing global operations.
Mr. Goebel has over 30 years experience in Emergency Response and Health & Safety Management previously holding positions with Weyerhaeuser Canada, Norske Skog, and Catalyst Paper Corporation. Mr. Goebel’s experience includes 10 years guiding emergency response and prevention programs for both underground and open pit mining operations in remote regions of northern Canada, Mexico, and USA.
Mr. Goebel currently serves as Chairperson for the Pulp and Paper Advisory Group of BC (PPAG) and maintains professional designations as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional and as a Certified Health and Safety Consultant.
Managing Director, Mercer Celgar
Bill MacPherson currently serves as Managing Director at Mercer’s Celgar mill in Castlegar, British Columbia...
Bill MacPherson currently serves as Managing Director at Mercer’s Celgar mill in Castlegar, British Columbia. Mr. MacPherson previously served as Mill Manager at Domtar’s integrated pulp and paper mill in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Prior to becoming Mill Manager at Kingsport, Bill served as the Director of Domtar’s Central Engineering Group and prior to that, he was the Engineering Manager at the Kingsport Mill. Bill started his career as a project engineer for Western Pulp in Port Alice, B.C. He also held positions for Georgia-Pacific, Fort James, and James River, all at Naheola, Alabama, in engineering, maintenance, and operational positions.
Mr. MacPherson has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of British Columbia. He has been a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia since 1990.
Mill Manager, Mercer Peace River
Shawn K. Elliott has served as the Mill Manager of Mercer Peace River Pulp since 2018. Prior to becoming Mill Manager...
Shawn Elliott has served as the Mill Manager of Mercer Peace River Pulp since 2018.
Prior to becoming Mill Manager, Mr. Elliott served as the Maintenance and Engineering Manager from 2006 to 2018 at DMI Peace River Pulp. Mr. Elliott’s previous roles included management of a paper mill, environment, customer services, and engineering at a Sack Kraft and Linerboard mill in British Columbia, and Instrument and Controls specialist at a newsprint mill in Ontario.
Mr. Elliott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University. He has more than 34 years of experience in the pulp and paper industry.
Managing Director, Mercer Rosenthal and Group Controller for Europe
Leonhard Nossol has been the Group Controller for Europe since August 2005. He has also been the...
Leonhard Nossol has been the Group Controller for Europe since August 2005. He has also been the Co-Managing Director of Rosenthal since 2020. Between 2005 and 2020 he was the sole Managing Director of Rosenthal, and from 1997 to 2005 he already was Co-Managing Director of Rosenthal. Before joining Mercer, Mr. Nossol was Director, Finance and Administration for a German household appliance producer from 1992 to 1997. Prior to this, he was Operations Controller at Grundig AG (consumer electronics) in Nürnberg, Germany.
Mr. Nossol has been a member of the German Industry Federation’s (BDI) Tax Committee since 2003. He was elected President of the German Wood Users Association (AGR) in 2013 and still holds this post. He has also been a board member in the German Papermaker’s association from 2013 onwards. Mr. Nossol holds a Political Science degree from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany and a degree in Business Management from the University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, Germany.
Managing Director, Mercer Rosenthal
Dr. Christian Sörgel has been the Co-Managing Director of Rosenthal since 2020. He joined Rosenthal in 2007...
Dr. Christian Sörgel has been the Co-Managing Director of Rosenthal since 2020. He joined Rosenthal in 2007 and held various positions in different areas of the mill in the following years. In 2013 he was appointed mill manager responsible for production and maintenance including investments.
Mr. Sörgel holds a PhD of Wood Science and Forest Product Technology degree from Hamburg University.
Managing Director, Mercer Stendal
André Listemann has served as Managing Director, Finance and Administration of the Stendal mill since November 2012...
André Listemann has served as Managing Director, Finance and Administration of the Stendal mill since November 2012. Prior to this, he served as Director, Finance and IT of Stendal since joining Mercer in 2012. In the past, Mr. Listemann was Regional Controller, Europe for Avery Dennison Corporation, a global labelling and packaging company, where he served for more than eleven years in several finance positions. Mr. Listemann started his career at Coopers & Lybrand as an external auditor and also spent three years in a management position at a local bank.
Mr. Listemann holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Jena.
Managing Director, Mercer Timber Products
Dr. Carsten Merforth has served as Managing Director of the Friesau sawmill since its acquisition in April 2017...
Dr. Carsten Merforth has served as Managing Director of the Friesau sawmill since its acquisition in April 2017. Previously, Dr. Merforth was the Managing Director of several high-capacity sawmills for Rettenmeier Holding AG and Pfeifer Holz GmbH. Dr. Merforth has more than 20 years of experience in the industrial sawmilling business and has extensive experience in operating saw and planing mills in Germany and Eastern Europe.
Dr. Merforth holds a Master of Forestry degree from Georg August University and a Doctorate of Forestry Economics degree from Albert Ludwigs University.
Managing Director, Mercer Holz
Wolfgang Beck has served as Managing Director of Mercer Holz since 2016, prior to which he served in different leading functions in Mercer's German...
Wolfgang Beck has served as Managing Director of Mercer Holz since 2016, prior to which he served in different leading functions in Mercer’s German wood business since 2005. In the past, Mr. Beck worked for a German state forest organization and was also at the beginning of his career working in the German financial sector. He has also been Managing Director of wood2M since 2016, a Joint Venture Company of Mercer and another Pulp and Paper Manufacturer.
Mr. Beck holds a degree in forestry from the University of Applied Sciences in Schwarzburg.
Executive Chairman of the Board
Jimmy S.H. Lee has served as Executive Chairman of the Board since July 2015. He served as a Director since May 1985...
Jimmy S.H. Lee has served as Executive Chairman of the Board since July 2015. He served as a Director since May 1985 and as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1992 to 2015. During his tenure at Mercer, the Company acquired the Rosenthal mill and converted it to produce kraft pulp, constructed and commenced operations at the Stendal mill, and acquired the Celgar mill.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Lee possesses particular knowledge and experience in finance and banking, credit markets, derivative risk management, and international pulp markets. Mr. Lee also serves as a Member of the Environmental, Health, and Safety Committee.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lead Director
Keith Purchase has served as Director since June 2012 and Lead Director since June 2018. Mr. Purchase was Executive Vice President...
Keith Purchase has served as Director since June 2012 and Lead Director since June 2018. Mr. Purchase was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for MacMillan Bloedel Limited from 1998 to 1999, President and Chief Executive Officer of TimberWest Forest Limited from 1994 to 1998 and Managing Director of Tasman Pulp and Paper from 1990 to 1994. Mr. Purchase was previously a Director of Catalyst Paper Corporation and Chair of the Board of Directors.
As he has held several senior positions in the forestry industry, Mr. Purchase brings to the Board extensive senior executive experience relevant to the Company’s operations, as well as significant board of director leadership experience from a wide variety of companies.
Mr. Purchase also serves as Chair of Mercer’s Governance and Nominating Committee and a Member of the Environmental, Health, and Safety Committee. He also provides leadership to our Board on board practices, governance matters, and succession planning in his role as the Lead Director of the Board.
Director
William D. McCartney has served as a Director since January 2003. He has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of...
William D. McCartney has served as a Director since January 2003. He has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pemcorp Management Inc., a corporate finance and management consulting firm, since its inception in 1990. From 1984 to 1990, he was a Founding Partner of Davidson & Company, Chartered Accountants, where he specialized in business advisory services. He has been involved with numerous capital restructuring and financing events involving several public companies and brings substantial knowledge relating to financial accounting and auditing processes.
Mr. McCartney is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has been a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants Association of British Columbia since 1980. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.
Mr. McCartney also serves as Chair of Mercer’s Audit Committee and as a Member of Mercer’s Governance and Nominating Committee.
James Shepherd has served as Director since June 2011. Mr. Shepherd was President and Chief Executive Officer of Canfor Corporation from 2004 to 2007 and ...
James Shepherd has served as Director since June 2011.
Mr. Shepherd was President and Chief Executive Officer of Canfor Corporation from 2004 to 2007 and Slocan Forest Products Limited from 1999 to 2004. He is also the former President of Crestbrook Forest Industries Limited and Finlay Forest Industries Limited and the former Chairman of the Forest Products Association of Canada. Mr. Shepherd has previously served as a Director of Buckman Laboratories International Inc., Conifex Timber Inc., Canfor Corporation as well as Canfor Pulp Income Fund (now Canfor Pulp Products Inc.).
Mr. Shepherd holds an Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.
Mr. Shepherd also serves as Chair of Mercer’s Environmental, Health and Safety Committee and as a Member of both the Compensation and Human Resources Committee and the Audit Committee.
Alan Wallace has served as Director since June 2018. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Peloton Advisors Inc. ...
Alan Wallace has served as Director since June 2018. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Peloton Advisors Inc., a financial advisory firm working with private and public companies on mergers and acquisitions, financial and strategic transactions and he is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Wallace was the Vice Chairman, Investment Banking, CIBC World Markets Inc. from 1987 to 2013 where he was also the Co-head of its Paper and Forest Products Group from 1995 to 2013.
Mr. Wallace has significant capital markets and mergers and acquisitions experience, including relating to debt and equity financings, corporate credit facilities and financial advisory assignments. He also has extensive forest products experience relating to financings and strategic transactions in the industry. He brings to the board extensive experience in capital markets and corporate strategic review.
Mr. Wallace holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Toronto.
Mr. Wallace also serves as Chair of Mercer’s Compensation Committee and a Member of the Audit Committee.
Linda Welty has served as Director since June 2018. She currently serves as an independent director of GCP Applied Technologies...
Linda Welty has served as Director since June 2018. She currently serves as an independent director of GCP Applied Technologies (NYSE: GCP), a global provider of specialty construction chemicals and building materials and has served in that role since 2020. She also serves as an independent director of Huber Engineered Materials, a global manufacturer of engineered specialty ingredients, a portfolio company of J.M. Huber Corporation and has served in that role since 2014. She is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Welty Strategic Consulting, LLC, an advisory firm focused on the development and execution of value creation strategies. From 2012 to 2019 she served as a director of the Atlanta Chapter of NACD and as Chairman from 2018-2019. The mission of NACD is the advancement of excellence in corporate governance. From 2010 to 2011 she served as a Director and Member of the special committee of Massey Energy Company. She served as an Independent Director of Vertellus Specialties, Inc., a global manufacturer of speciality chemicals, from 2007 to 2016.
Ms. Welty was President and Chief Operating Officer of Flint Ink Corp., a global producer of printing inks for packaging and publication from 2003 to 2005. From 1998 to 2003, she served as President of the Specialty Group of H.B. Fuller Company, a global manufacturer of adhesives, sealants, and coatings. She served over twenty years in global leadership roles for Hoechst AG and its former U.S. subsidiary, Celanese.
Ms. Welty brings to the Board extensive global industrial experience spanning more than 40 years in corporate governance, executive leadership, operations, sales, marketing, and manufacturing roles in the chemicals, specialty chemicals, and energy industries.
Ms. Welty holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas. Ms. Welty also serves as a Member of Mercer’s Governance and Nominating Committee and Environmental, Health, and Safety Committee.
Rainer Rettig serves as Director since February 2020. He has served as head of the Circular Economy Program of Covestro AG...
Rainer Rettig serves as Director since February 2020. He has served as head of the Circular Economy Program of Covestro AG (formerly known as Bayer Material Science, a subgroup of Bayer AG), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-tech polymer materials.
Mr. Rettig brings significant experience in sales, marketing and strategy development in the field of chemicals and plastics. He had several senior leadership roles in Germany, Japan, Hong Kong and China.
Mr. Rettig holds a Ph.D in polymer chemistry and polymer processing from the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany.
Mr. Rettig serves as a member of Mercer’s Compensation Committee and the Environmental, Health and Safety Committee.
Alice Laberge serves as Director since February 2021. She most recently retired from the board of the Royal Bank of Canada in January 2021...
Alice Laberge serves as Director since February 2021. She most recently retired from the board of the Royal Bank of Canada in January 2021, on which she served for over 15 years.
Ms. Laberge is a member of the boards of directors of Nutrien Ltd. and Russel Metals Inc. Ms. Laberge is also a director of the BC Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Public Accountability Board.
She was President and Chief Executive Officer of Fincentric Corporation until 2005 and was previously Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice-President of Finance for MacMillan Bloedel Limited.
Ms. Laberge holds an MBA from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta.
Janine North serves as Director since February 2021. She currently serves as a director for Conifex Timber Inc. and Imperial Metals Corporation...
Janine North serves as Director since February 2021. She currently serves as a director for Conifex Timber Inc. and Imperial Metals Corporation. She is also a director of the BC Ferry Services Corp. and the Fraser Basin Council.
Ms. North retired from the Northern Development Initiative Trust in 2016 after serving 11 years as the founding Chief Executive Officer.
Ms. North holds a Diploma in Management Studies from the Executive MBA Program at Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta.
