EcoPlanet Bamboo Group hires former WY execs

Barrington, Illinois-based EcoPlanet Bamboo Group has nabbed three former Weyerhaeuser executives in its latest hiring spree.

Of these, former Weyerhaeuser Solutions president Marvin Risco has been named group president. He has held multiple positions at Weyerhaeuser over the years, ranging from financial director for Weyerhaeuser Forestlands International to VP international operations in Latin America, Europe and Asia.

“Ray brings a wealth of financial, operational and managerial expertise and the know-how to develop those processes within large companies, which we can now effectively apply at EcoPlanet Bamboo,” says Troy Wiseman, CEO of EcoPlanet Bamboo.

“I have spent years developing certified sustainable, plantation based fiber to meet the ever-growing global demand for wood products,” said Risco. “Once I understood the depth of what EcoPlanet Bamboo has created, I realized that they have figured out what no other bamboo company has ever done before. EcoPlanet Bamboo has created the systems and protocols necessary to develop bamboo plantations as a commercially viable alternative fiber in terms of scale, cost and sustainability. EcoPlanet Bamboo’s certified sustainable plantations, the company’s IP and the industry-leading operational systems they’ve developed and proven, have convinced me EcoPlanet Bamboo has the foundation to grow their business to significant commercial scale.”

In addition to Risco, Dr. Kent Wheiler and James Leitheiser will join EcoPlanet as COO and VP commercial technologies, respectively.

Wheiler has racked up 25 years of experience  in international plantation management and strategic planning at Weyerhaeuser.

Leitheiser has over 27 years of experience in manufacturing and forest products, serving most recently as director of global business services for Weyerhaeuser Solutions.