Alcan Packaging creates new customer-focused group dedicated to growth, innovation, sustainability and increased brand value

Alcan Packaging, a division of Rio Tinto Alcan, has announced two senior management nominations to advance its strategy to maximize profitable growth and innovation, while ensuring customers’ needs are met and exceeded in a competitive marketplace.

Ilene Gordon, president and chief executive officer of Alcan Packaging, has named Michael Rubenstein, currently president of the Global Pharmaceutical Packaging business, to the newly created position of chief growth and innovation officer, effective 16 April 2008. In this new leadership role, Mr. Rubenstein will lead a team dedicated to help deliver Alcan Packaging's strategy to create sustainable value through innovation, customer partnerships and new growth platforms. This new group will contribute to further differentiate both customers and Alcan Packaging in the marketplace.

“Establishing this team under Michael Rubenstein’s direction demonstrates our passion for packaging and serving our customers with inspiring solutions,” said Ilene Gordon. “We are committed to excel and achieve our growth agenda. This newly assembled, high-calibre organization, consisting of talent primarily from across our business, will ensure we are even more closely linked with our customers.”

“I am excited about this opportunity to champion a value innovation culture throughout our business that will help increase the velocity of our growth and bring our organization to the next level,” said Mr. Rubenstein. “This dedicated team will be focused on building world-class partnerships with our customers to develop innovative products and services. Our goal is to provide true market distinction, create unique value for our customers and consumers, and reinforce our commitment to sustainability.”

Mr. Rubenstein has held several senior management positions in the packaging industry. His 30 years of experience is complemented with studies in Printing Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, New York) and an immersion in World Class Partnerships at Duke University (Durham, North Carolina). He holds Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from Concordia University (Montreal, Canada). He is based in Kirkland, Quebec.

In addition, Mike Schmitt, who continues as president, Food Packaging Americas, takes over as President, Global Pharmaceutical Packaging, a US$1 billion business. The businesses are headquartered in Chicago and Kirkland, respectively and will continue to be run separately. “I look forward to the challenges of these expanded responsibilities and to working with the Global Pharmaceutical team to implement their strategy of growth and manufacturing excellence,” said Mr. Schmitt. “While Food Americas and Global Pharmaceutical are different businesses with their own characteristics, they share a common focus to satisfy customers and a passion to exceed expectations," he added.

With 25 years experience in the packaging industry, Mr. Schmitt was named to lead the Food Americas business, with sales of approximately US$1.4 billion, in December 2006. He joined the company in 2000 as head of the Food & Specialty Flexibles business unit after spending 17 years with Bemis Corporation. Mr. Schmitt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging from Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan), and a Master of Business Administration degree from Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan).