13 Mar. 2025: TAPPI, the leading association for the pulp, paper, tissue, packaging and converting industry is pleased to announce that Tony Smurfit, Group Chief Executive Officer and President of Smurfit Westrock, has been named TAPPI/PIMA Executive of the Year. Among the highest honors bestowed by TAPPI and PIMA, the Executive of the Year Award is presented to senior-level executives in the pulp, paper or converting industries for excellence in management and outstanding contributions to the industry as a whole.

“Tony’s leadership is the catalyst behind Smurfit Westrock’s innovation and commitment to sustainable packaging,” said TAPPI President and CEO Larry N. Montague. “That is the personification of the TAPPI/PIMA Executive of the Year.”

In September 2023, Smurfit Kappa and WestRock announced their combination to create the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. The company operates in 40 countries with a team of 100,000 employees and combined sales of approximately US$31 billion.

Prior to the merger, Smurfit served as Chief Executive Officer of Smurfit Kappa Group since 2015.

Smurfit joined the company in 1986 and held several management roles in Smurfit Kappa having worked in various areas of the organization in both the United States and Europe. He was Chief Executive of Smurfit Kappa Europe from 1999 to 2002 before becoming the Group Chief Operations Officer, a role he held from 2002 to 2015. Smurfit was elected to the Board of Directors in 1989.

Smurfit is a member of the European Round Table of Industrialists and holds an Honorary Fellowship of Medicine and an Honorary Doctorate of Management Science from University College Dublin. He graduated from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1995 with a degree in Management Science.

“I’m honored and privileged to receive this recognition from TAPPI. Last year was a historic year for our 100,000 people and I truly believe that Smurfit Westrock is one of the great companies of the world,” said Smurfit.

Smurfit will be recognized during TAPPI’s 110th Anniversary and Awards Gala at TAPPICon, May 4-7, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minn., USA and will receive his award later this year at the Association of Suppliers to the Paper Industry’s (ASPI) Fall Customer Alignment Meeting in Atlanta.