New members elected to the shareholder committee of Modellfabrik Papier

New members elected to the shareholders committee

It all started with a working group of representatives from the paper industry, the Technical University of Darmstadt and PTS. At the end of 2020, the Modellfabrik Papier was founded as a non-profit holding company with 15 renowned shareholders. Now the number has risen to 24. The group of shareholders covers all paper grades, as well as suppliers and machine manufacturers. The shareholders’ committee was recently re-elected.

Two new committee members

Alexander Deutschle, Vice President of Innovations at Metsä, and Frank Thoerner, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Innovation at Felix Schoeller, were elected to the committee from the ranks of the shareholders. They succeed Elena Viviani, Technical Director at Essity, and Lada Bemert, Vice President of New Business & Research at Voith, who have left the committee. Markus Wildberger, Corporate Director of Technology at Koehler Innovation & Technologie, was re-elected as Chairman. The deputy chair is Harm Bergmann-Kramer, a member of the board of Wepa. Maik Willig, mill director at Sappi, continues to serve as secretary.

The reduction of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions is a profound challenge that calls for cross-sector cooperation and the pooling of resources, says Markus Wildberger. The Modellfabrik Papier embodies this idea in a unique way. “As a member of the founding and shareholder committee, I am happy to continue to contribute my professional experience in developing strategic projects and implementing innovative strategies in a proactive manner to the work at hand. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the two departing members for their dedicated work on the committee and their valuable contributions  to Modellfabrik Papier project.”

Combining expertise

“The paper industry must increasingly focus on manufacturing methods that combine the ecological with the economic in order to continue to exist,” says Alexander Deutschle. “Based on my many years of experience in biorefineries, the paper industry, in research, innovation and sustainability work, I am passionate to contribute to Modellfabrik Papier.”

Innovations and new approaches to CO2-neutral paper production are based on the interdisciplinary exchange between institutes, partners in the supply industry and paper manufacturers, emphasizes Frank Thoerner. “As head of technology, energy, raw materials and development at Felix Schoeller, I firmly believe in the importance of joint forces in the face of constant change in our energy-intensive industry.”

Second term of office until early 2027

The shareholders are providing basic funding for the Modellfabrik Papier until the end of 2026, while the research work is financed by public funds. Seven members of the shareholders’ group form the steering committee. All committee members were elected unanimously. The newly elected board will serve until the beginning of 2027.

Shareholder committee as a governance tool

The shareholder committee is a proven governance tool for organizing cooperation efficiently and ensuring joint decision-making. “The larger the group of shareholders, the more difficult it is to involve all shareholders directly. In day-to-day business with full calendars, not every member always has enough time in the year to attend meetings and meetings on several days a year,” says Peter Bekaert, Managing Director of Modellfabrik Papier. The committee reflects the group of shareholders as a whole. It represents them and exercises their rights and acts on their behalf. This ensures agility and ability to act in a growing shareholder group.