Management changes for Abitibi’s UK recycling arm

And, Stephen Drane and James Stone have also been appointed to the company's management team.

The changes come as the company's Canadian parent, Abitibi-Consolidated, moved closer this week to merging with rival paper company Bowater Incorporated.

Abitibi-Consolidated Recycling Europe is one of the largest kerbside collection companies operating in the UK, collecting around 400,000 tonnes of recovered paper alone each year. Originally focused on supplying recovered fibre to the Bridgewater paper mill, it has expanded in recent years into providing multi-material kerbside collections including paper, cans, textiles, glass, plastics, cardboard and green waste.

Management changes

In an announcement made yesterday, Abitibi-Consolidated said Ms Kelly had been promoted from the role of recycling finance and administration manager. She replaces Mr Mansfield, who stepped down in April after 18 years at the Ellesmere Port-based company to form his own consultancy (see letsrecycle.com story).

Ms Kelly has been with the company for 24 years, originally as a member of the Bridgewater mill accounting team, before transferring to the recycling side of the business. Assistant accountant James Stone has stepped up to the role of recycling finance and administration manager in her stead.

Managing director Ron Humphreys said: “Mandy brings to her new role a breadth of experience of the whole business, including mill and recycling accounting, which will serve her well in leading the business development team.”

In a further change to its business development and planning team, the company revealed that Stephen Drane has joined the company as business manager. He previously held a similar position at SITA.

Mr Drane has more than 16 years' experience in the waste management industry, having held a number of business development and operational management positions for companies dealing with both the municipal, industrial and commercial sectors. He has also been responsible for the establishment of several service delivery contracts to the local authority sector, the company said.

Merger

Parent company Abitibi-Consolidated looks set to become the eighth largest pulp and paper manufacturer in the world, through a merger with Bowater Incorporated, which has 12 pulp and paper mills in North America and South Korea, and is one of the world's largest consumers of recycled newspapers and magazines.

The Superior Court of Québec issued a final order approving the merger on Tuesday (August 7). The deal remains subject to review by the United States Department of Justice, but is expected to be finalised by the end of September.

The combined company, AbitibiBowater Inc., will own or operate 32 pulp and paper facilities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea, and will become one of the largest recyclers of newspapers and magazines in the world.

John Weaver, president and chief executive of Abitibi-Consolidated, said: “We believe AbitibiBowater will be a global leader with a brighter future than either company would have on its own. We believe the combination with Bowater, which is expected to generate annualized synergies of at least US$250 million, will enhance financial flexibility, increase cash flow, and create a better opportunity to unlock future value.”