New director for paper industry body CEPI

Europe – The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) has appointed Sylvain Lhôte as its new director general. Lhôte is currently vice-president of governmental affairs in Europe for aluminium producer Alcoa and will take over from Jori Ringman at CEPI as of September 5. ‘We are sure his leadership and expertise will help CEPI reach ever higher levels of excellence,’ comments the confederation’s chairman Peter Oswald.

A French national, Lhôte studied political sciences, international law and business administration at the Strasbourg and Paris-Sorbonne Universities, and post-graduated cum laude in European administration at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. Prior to joining Alcoa, Lhôte directed EU and sustainability affairs for the Borealis Group in the base chemicals and plastics industry and led a global corporate social responsibility programme for the company in the EMEA region. He previously chaired the Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs practice in Europe and headed its environment department, advising major trade associations and industries in the field of sustainability policies and public affairs strategies.

Lhôte began his career in parliamentary cabinets at the European Parliament and the French National Assembly.