Management

Jimmy S.H. Lee , age 54, has been a director since May 1985 and President and Chief Executive Officer since 1992. Mr. Lee holds a BaSc Degree in chemical engineering from the University or British Columbia, Canada. During Mr. Lee's tenure with Mercer, we acquired the Rosenthal mill, converted the Rosenthal mill to the production of kraft pulp, constructed and started up the Stendal mill and acquired the Celgar mill.

David M. Gandossi , age 54, has been Secretary, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer since August 15, 2003. Mr. Gandossi was formerly the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President of Formation Forest Products (a closely held corporation) from June 2002 to August 2003. Mr. Gandossi previously served as Chief Financial Officer, Vice-President, Finance and Secretary of Pacifica Papers Inc., a North American specialty pulp and paper manufacturing company previously listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, from December 1999 to August 2001 and Controller and Treasurer from June 1998 to December 1999. From June 1998 to August 31, 1998, he also served as Secretary to Pacifica Papers Inc. From March 1998 to June 1998, Mr. Gandossi served as Controller, Treasurer and Secretary of MB Paper Ltd. From April 1994 to March 1998, Mr. Gandossi held the position of Controller and Treasurer with Harmac Pacific Inc., a Canadian pulp manufacturing company previously listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Mr. Gandossi is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Canada. From February 2007 to present, he has chaired the B.C. Pulp and Paper Task Force, a joint government industry and labor effort that is mandated to identify measures to improve the competitiveness of the British Columbia pulp and paper industry. He is also a member of the Working Round Table on Forestry.

Claes-Inge Isacson , age 66, has been our Chief Operating Officer since November 2006 and is based in our Berlin office. Mr. Isacson brings over 24 years of senior level pulp and paper management to our senior management team, with a focus on kraft pulp. Mr. Isacson held the positions of President Norske Skog Europe, and then Senior Vice President Production for Norske Skogindustrier ASA between 1989 and 2004. His most recent position was President, AF Process, a consulting and engineering company working worldwide. He holds a Masters of Science, Mechanical Engineering.

Richard Short, age 44, has been our Controller since November 2010, prior to which he served as our Director, Corporate Finance since joining Mercer in 2007. Previous roles include Controller, Financial Reporting from 2006 to 2007 and Director, Corporate Finance from 2004 to 2006 with Catalyst Paper Corporation and Assistant Controller, Consolidation Accounting and Reporting from 1999 to 2004 and Manager, Consolidation Accounting and Reporting from 1996 to 1999 with Alderwoods Group, Inc. Mr. Short holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and has been a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1993.

Brian Merwin, age 37, has been our VP Strategic Initiatives since February 2009. Prior to which he was our Director of Strategic and Business Initiatives since August 2007, and Business Analyst since May 2005. Brian has an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and brings with him extensive industry knowledge. He is a key member of Celgar's Green Energy Project, and was instrumental in the development of the BC Hydro Energy Purchase Agreement and securing the Eco energy grant.

Leonhard Nossol , age 54, has been our Group Controller for Europe since August 2005. He has also been a managing director of Rosenthal since 1997 and the sole managing director of Rosenthal since September 2005. Mr. Nossol had a significant involvement in the conversion of the Rosenthal mill to the production of kraft pulp in 1999 and increases in the mill's annual production capacity to 340,000 ADMTs, as well as the reduction in production costs at the mill.

Niklaus Gruenenfelder, age 54, became the Managing Director of Stendal in January 2009. Previously, from 1989 until 2006, Mr. Gruenenfelder held a variety of positions in Switzerland, China, Germany and Pakistan with Swiss chemicals manufacturer Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc. (formerly Ciba-Geigy AG). In 2006, Huntsman Corporation, a global chemical and chemical products company, acquired the textile effects business from Ciba and Mr. Gruenenfelder was the Managing Director and Head of Technical Operations at Huntsman's Langweid am Lech site in Germany from 2006 until 2008. Mr. Gruenenfelder holds a PhD in Technical Science and an MBA.

Alan Hitzroth , age 54, has held the position of General Mill Manager at Mercer's Celgar Operation since September 2006. Alan has a B.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering and a Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology. Prior to joining Mercer, Alan held several senior positions within the Tembec organization including VP & COO of the Marathon Pulp joint venture operation. He brings proven leadership and over 20 years of industry experience to our company.

Cherie Hanvold, age 36, has held the position of Managing Director of Finance and Administration at Mercer's Celgar Operation since November 2009. Cherie is a member of the Certified Management Accountants' Association of Canada. Prior to joining Mercer, Cherie held several senior positions within the Canfor organization including Regional Controller for a group of sawmills in Northern BC. Cherie has over 12 years experience in the forestry sector.

David M. Cooper , age 58, has been Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Europe since June 2005. Mr. Cooper previously held a variety of senior positions around the world in Sappi Ltd., a large global forest products group, from 1982 to 2005, including the sales and marketing of various pulp and paper grades and the management of a manufacturing facility. He has more than 25 years of diversified experience in the international pulp and paper industry.

Eric X. Heine , age 48, has been Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America and Asia since June 2005. Mr. Heine was previously Vice President Pulp and International Paper Sales and Marketing for Domtar Inc., a global pulp and paper corporation, from 1999 to 2005. He has over 18 years of experience in the pulp and paper industry, including developing strategic sales channels and market partners to build corporate brands.

Wolfram Ridder , age 49, was appointed Vice President of Business Development in August 2005, prior to which he was a managing director of Stendal. Mr. Ridder was the principal assistant to our Chief Executive Officer from November 1995 until September 2002.

Genevieve Stannus , age 41, has been our Treasurer since July 2005, prior to which she was a Senior Financial Analyst with Mercer from August 2003. Prior to joining Mercer, Ms. Stannus held Senior Treasury Analyst positions with Catalyst Paper Corporation and Pacifica Papers Inc. She has over 10 years experience in the forest products industry. Ms. Stannus is a member of the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada.