Change at the top of the paper industry

Sigrid Eckhardt studied nutrition and communication science and started her career at Danone in 2009 as Health Affairs Manager. She looks back on 13 years of experience in the food industry in various areas - from marketing to regulatory affairs, quality management, communication and stakeholder management. In the last six years, the Lower Austrian has focused on the strategic orientation of corporate communications and was also responsible for crisis communications as a press officer. Since 2018, Ms Eckhardt has headed the Corporate Affairs department at Danone, where the areas of communication, public affairs, CSR and sustainability were bundled. Activities in the association system were just as much a part of her duties as dialogues with NGOs, politics and authorities. Ms Eckhardt moved to Austropapier at the beginning of April, where she succeeds Gabriele Herzog as Managing Director, who is looking forward to new tasks in retirement.

"Austropapier has been the voice of the domestic paper industry for 150 years now. I would like to use this voice in particular to highlight the important contribution of this industry in the area of climate protection and sustainability. Already today, the paper industry is a pioneer by using more than 60% renewable energy. 40% of the CO2 emissions of the entire industry have already been reduced. In the future, the focus will continue to be on decarbonisation, for example by replacing fossil-based products and promotion of the circular economy", Sigrid Eckhardt (Managing Director Austropapier).

With Martin Zahlbruckner, CEO of delfortgroup AG, another distinguished manager takes over the function of President of the paper industry's interest group and thus succeeds Kurt Maier, who represented the Austrian paper industry nationally and internationally for two years. Mr. Zahlbruckner worked in European law and received his doctorate from the Johannes Kepler University in Linz in 1995. From 1997 to 2000 he headed OP papírna in the Czech Republic and then moved to Trienberg Holding AG as Chief Financial Officer and Board Member for paper outside the tobacco industry. Born in Linz, he can now look back on 16 years as CEO Chairman of the Board of delfortgroup AG in Traun. Martin Zahlbruckner has been a member of the Austropapier Board since 2013, and has been Deputy Chairman of the Association since 2020. In addition, also CEPI Board Member in the European Pulp and Paper Industry Association. With Martin Zahlbruckner, another industry expert takes the helm of the representation of the interests of the paper industry.

"We live in challenging times. The Russia-Ukraine war, price explosions in raw materials and energy, climate crisis and inflation have an enormous impact on our industry. Especially in difficult times, it is important to focus on progress and be part of the solution. We invest in climate-friendly technologies and create products based on renewable raw materials and are considered a pioneer in the bioeconomy. We are consistently pursuing this path and making our contribution to the environment and society", Martin Zahlbruckner (CEO delfortgroup AG, President Austropapier).