Helsinki, January 20, 2006 - Kemira’s Pulp & Paper Chemicals (PPC) will strengthen its current global organization. "The new organization structure emphasizes the growing business and our recently conquered position as industry's world leader. The new structure enables us to better focus on key customers in corporate as well as in local levels. It also reinforces realization of the global synergies", says Lauri Junnila, President of Pulp & Paper Chemicals.

PPC's main structure will now be completed by global functions to enhance customer focus. Michael Strand has been appointed Vice President, Strategic Marketing & Business Development. The current CAM organisation will be a part of this function. The other global functions, as recently announced, are R&D headed by Johan Grön, Vice President, R&D, and Manufacturing, Purchasing & Logistics headed by Vesa Itkonen, Vice President, Manufacturing. 

SBU's will remain responsible for achieving their targeted financial results, organic growth, and operational efficiency. The global functions will even further emphazise the role of  the Corporate Account Management (CAM) organisation as the tool for supporting Global Forest Corporations. The main organizational responsibility of the new function is to reach growth targets in PPC’s corporate accounts and to develop more efficient and customer oriented operations. Kemira is today the most complete chemical supplier to the pulp & paper industry, the global functions will utilize this strenght in creating new concepts throughout the customers process from pulp to coater.

In connection with the re-structuring of Pulp & Paper Chemicals’ organization, the following appointments will be effective as of January 20, 2006:

Michael Strand has been appointed Vice President, Strategic Marketing & Business Development.

Vesa Itkonen continues as Vice President, Manufacturing but will also have administrative responsibility of global Purchasing & Logistics function.

Par Panigrahi has been appointed President, Pulp & Paper Chemicals, South America. He will be responsible for new business development and strengthening our position in this emerging market and will also continue as Project Director for Chemical Island project in Uruguay. Par will be based in Montevideo, Uruguay.

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