CEPI appoints Francesca Stevens as new director general

The Confederation of European Paper Industries has named Francesca Stevens as its new director general, succeeding Jori Ringman, who had held the post since 2019. Stevens moves from Europen, the European packaging and environment organisation, where she was secretary general since 2020, and was nominated by CEPI's board in September 2026. She will lead CEPI's 24-person secretariat on decarbonisation, energy costs and EU regulatory files affecting the European pulp and paper sector.

Why this mattersEuropean pulp and paper producers get a lobby chief from the cross-material packaging side, with Europen and aluminium experience, as energy and decarbonisation files intensify.

• Francesca Stevens appointed CEPI director general, succeeding Jori Ringman, who had been in post since 2019.
• Nomination made by CEPI's board in September 2026.
• Stevens was secretary general of Europen, the European packaging and environment organisation, since 2020.
• She previously held management roles at aluminium groups Arconic and Alcoa.
• She has 25 years of experience representing industry interests to EU institutions.
• She leads a CEPI secretariat of 24 people, working with a board of national association representatives and pulp and paper company executives.

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