Michael Hanley has been appointed executive vice president of Alcan. He will retain his responsibilities as president and chief executive officer, Alcan Bauxite and Alumina until a successor is selected.
His appointment follows Alcan's successful integration of Pechiney and the completion of its spin-off of its rolled products business into an independent company called Novelis.
Meanwhile, Bill Barker has been appointed an executive director at Rexam with immediate effect. Barker was appointed to the position of group director beverage cans in December 2004, succeeding Lars Emilson following the latter's appointment as chief executive in October 2004.
Finnish consumer packaging manufacturer Huhtamaki has reinforced its group head office with a couple of executive appointments.
Sakari Ahdekivi has been appointed new chief financial officer (CFO) and executive committee member starting on 15 March 2005. He will be based in Espoo, Finland and report to CEO Heikki Takanen.
Klaus Rüling has been appointed group vice president global sourcing with effect from 1 April 2005. He will be based in Espoo, Finland and Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. Rüling currently he has worldwide responsibility for part of Unilever's packaging purchases, as global supply director for rigid packaging home & personal care. In his new position he will be in charge of coordinating sourcing activities with an annual value in excess of a billion euros.
Jürgen Wiecha has been made chief financial officer (CFO) of German packaging firm Gerresheimer Group. He assumes responsibility for the areas of finance and information technology.
Wiecha has worked for the company, a leading international supplier of high-qualitypackaging made from glass and plastic, for four years in the position of director corporatefinance, mergers & acquisitions.
George M. Smart has been elected to the Ball Corporation board of directors. Smart is past chairman of the board and president of Phoenix Packaging Corporation and former president and chief executive officer of Central States Can Co. (a division of Van Dorn Company).
"George's extensive experience in the packaging industry and his business acumen will be important assets to our company, and we are pleased to have him on our board," said R. David Hoover, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ball.
And finally, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has named M.C. Jackson as vice president and general manager of the group's containerboard mill and forest resources division. Jackson succeeds William N. Wandmacher, who retired at the end of 2004.