Sylvamo Appoints John Sims As Ceo And David Petratis As Chairman

Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM) has appointed John Sims to its board as the new CEO and president effective January 1, 2026, succeeding retiring leader Jean-Michel Ribiéras. Sims, who served as COO after joining at Sylvamo's 2021 spinoff from International Paper, brings 27 years of experience in printing papers, packaging, and leadership roles across North America and Europe, including as SVP for EMEA and corporate development. Concurrently, David Petratis becomes independent chairman, leveraging his track record from Allegion plc's successful spinoff and growth in manufacturing and global markets. This separation of CEO and chairman roles aligns with public company best practices for objective oversight. The seven-member board includes six independents, supporting Sylvamo's strategy amid $3.8 billion 2024 net sales. Headquartered in Memphis with mills in Europe, Latin America, and North America, Sylvamo employs over 6,500 and focuses on renewable resource transformation for education, communication, and entertainment papers. These changes position the company for sustained leadership in the global paper industry