Sara Engber appointed President of Fiber Packaging at Huhtamaki, Klaus Peller to step down as CEO of Syktyvkar LPK

FINLAND – Huhtamaki has appointed Sara Engber as President of Fiber Packaging and a member of the Global Executive Team.

She will report to President and CEO Ralf K. Wunderlich and will be based in Espoo, Finland.

The appointment follows Huhtamaki’s decision to separate its Fiber Foodservice business into two distinct segments: Fiber Packaging and Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania.

Engber, who joined Huhtamaki in 2009, has held various leadership roles, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Operations, North America.

Meanwhile, Fredrik Davidsson will continue as a member of the Global Executive Team, taking on the role of President, Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania. Both leadership changes will take effect by April 1, 2025, at the latest.

Huhtamaki is a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, with a strong focus on fiber-based packaging innovation.

Klaus Peller to leave CEO position at Syktyvkar LPK

Meanwhile, Klaus Peller, CEO of Syktyvkar LPK, will step down from his role on March 5, 2025, the company has announced.

Peller was one of the last senior Western executives still in Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Peller first joined Syktyvkar LPK in 2011 as Director of Forestry and was appointed CEO in 2012.

After a brief stint leading an Austrian facility within Mondi Group in 2013, he returned as CEO in 2014. In November 2023, he was also appointed to the company’s Board of Directors. 

During his tenure, Peller oversaw major modernization projects, including upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, modernizing the thermal power plant, and enhancing forestry operations.

He also strengthened government partnerships with the Komi Republic, formalizing agreements to support social and economic development. The company has not yet announced a successor. 

Syktyvkar LPK was previously owned by Mondi plc, which sold the facility in late 2023 to Sezar Invest LLC for RUB 80 billion (US$797 million), marking Mondi’s full exit from Russia.

The deal, which included two affiliated entities, was finalized ahead of schedule. Mondi received RUB 57 billion (US$568 million) in its London bank account, with the remaining RUB 23 billion (US$229 million) paid in two installments by December 2023. The proceeds were designated for shareholder distribution.

Syktyvkar LPK, formerly Mondi’s largest Russian operation, specializes in pulp, packaging paper, and uncoated fine paper. Its new owner, Sezar Invest, is a subsidiary of Moscow-based real estate developer Sezar Group.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE