Placement Report
Result Placement
Days to Present Placed Candidate 1
Days to Placement 32
Total Candidates Presented 1
Total Candidates Interviewed by Client 1
Total Prospects DDI Spoke With 1
Lead Consultant

Andrew Borrell

Vice President & Practice Leader: Paper & Packaging

Company Description

World-leading company in high-performing paper and packaging materials – passionately committed to sustainability, quality, and customer value.

Job Title

Paper Business Unit Manager

How long was client searching prior to our involvement?

The client was searching for 6 months prior to reaching out to DDI.

Did client have internal recruiting resources?

Yes, both internal and external sources were utilized prior to our involvement.

Why was this a real problem for the client?

The organization was heavily invested in developing and commercializing new paper grades at its mill in order to maximize the value of both its graphic paper and linerboard production capabilities. As market demand for traditional graphic paper products continued to decline, leadership recognized the need to diversify their product portfolio and increase participation in the corrugated packaging market, which offered stronger long-term growth opportunities. The strategy centered on leveraging existing assets and equipment to produce linerboard grades that could be sold competitively into the corrugated industry while maintaining operational profitability.

One of the key challenges facing the company was the lack of internal expertise related to this transition. While the organization possessed significant experience in graphic paper manufacturing, it did not have a team member who had previously led or participated in a successful shift from a graphic-paper-focused operation to a linerboard-centric business model. The move required not only technical knowledge of paper grades and production processes, but also a deep understanding of corrugated industry requirements, customer expectations, supply chain dynamics, testing standards, and market positioning.

As a result, the company faced uncertainty around product development, qualification, go-to-market strategy, and operational execution. There was a need for experienced guidance to help evaluate production capabilities, identify target customers, establish quality specifications, and navigate the commercial and technical challenges associated with entering a new market segment. Successfully making this transition would allow the organization to better utilize existing mill assets, improve capacity utilization, create new revenue streams, and position the business for sustained profitability in an evolving paper and packaging marketplace.

How did this opportunity help the candidate?

This role represented a significant career advancement for the candidate, providing the highest level of responsibility they had held in their more than 30-year career. It offered the opportunity to lead a complex business initiative, influence strategic decision-making, and drive operational and commercial success across the organization. Equally important, the position allowed the individual to leverage a unique skill set developed through prior experience transitioning paper operations from graphic grades to linerboard production. Their firsthand knowledge of the technical, operational, and market challenges associated with graphic-to-liner conversions enabled them to provide valuable leadership and guidance during a critical period of transformation for the company.