• The Finnish forestry association, Finnforest, has chosen Markko Ihamuotila to lead its new e-business subsidiary. The department will implement e-business solutions and develop new opportunities in this area. Ihamuotila will combine his responsibilities in the e-business subsidiary with his present role as business development and marketing director of Finnforest's engineered wood division. Also in the engineered wood division, Finnforest has nominated Bo Borgström as the section's senior vice president.

• Harald Schmid has taken over the reins from Kai Vikman as manager of Metsä- Serla's UK Paper mill in Sittingbourne, Kent. Schmid joins UK Paper from the Biberist mill in Switzerland where he held the position of production manager. The new mill manager holds a degree in paper production from Munich. Before joining Biberist, Schmid gained practical experience in papermaking at MD Dachau, Papierfabrik Utzenstrof and Papierfabrik Zwingen. UK Paper's previous manager, Kai Vikman, is returning to Finland where he will oversee Metsä-Serla's FIM 600 million ($93 million) grade-switch investment project at the Kangas mill in Jyväskylä.

Harald Schmid is Metsä-Serla's man at UK Paper

• Södra's takeover of the Norwegian pulp mills, Tofte and Folla, from Norkse Skog has brought about some changes in the company's personnel. Maria Ström is leaving her position as technical product manager in the pulp for wood-containing paper product area to form part of a group which navigates the company's internal productivity. The acquisition of Tofte and Folla also brought Södra a wealth of know-how from the mills' workforce, as well as an extra 480,000 tons/yr of pulp assets. The Swedish pulp producer has recruited Knut Omhult from the Tofte mill to the position of new technical product manager in the wood-containing paper business area. Omholt brings with him years of experience in the production of wood-containing paper, especially in supercalendered (SC) output.

• UPM-Kymmene has made some changes in its publication papers division. Pentti Arvela has been appointed the senior vice president of the sector with responsibility for customer segments, marketing and sales. Markku Tynkkynen will head up product groups and mill operations while Jyrki Ovaska will take care of business development and support functions. All three will report to Ismo Lepola, president of the publication papers division.

• Jorma Westlund has joined Stora Enso as senior vice president of public affairs. Westlund will form part of the communications and investor relations team at the company's head office in Helsinki, Finland. The move takes Westlund into the private sector from a government post as special advisor to Finland's prime minister.

•Walter Reiter is heading up the commercial side of Jagenberg's recently merged winder and sheeter divisions. With the consolidation of the two divisions, Reiter will share the top post with Albert Stitz. While Reiter is responsible for the commercial side of the businesses, Stitz is in charge of engineering, research and development. Stitz has been with Jagenberg since 1995. The new role will not be Reiter's first introduction to the paper industry, either. Reiter previously worked in the paper machinery sales division of Voith Sulzer. The position became vacant when Reiter's successor, Volker Rose, crossed the Atlantic to take up a new role at Jagenberg's US subsidiary in Connecticut.

• Bob Buckman is stepping down from his role as chairman and chief executive officer of Buckman Laboratories after 22 years in the driving seat. Buckman will not lose touch with the pulp and paper industry, though. He will continue to represent the company at the pulp and paper foundations of Western Michigan University and North Carolina State University. Buckman willl also serve as chairman of the executive committee of Buckman's board of directors. Steve Buckman will take up the position of chairman and chief executive officer at the company.