West Fraser makes leadership and growth moves
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., the Canadian lumber production giant, has announced a series of executive moves.
Sean McLaren, currently the company’s president, solid wood, will become West Fraser’s chief operating officer.
Kevin Burke, vice president, North American engineered wood products and renewable energy, will become the company’s senior vice president, wood products.
Keith Carter, vice president of Western Canada operations, has been named vice president of Western Canada.
Additionally, Alan McMeekin, vice president of European engineered wood products, will become the company’s new senior vice president - Europe.
West Fraser confirmed with HBSDealer that all of the executive changes are effective immediately.
“These changes further strengthen our management capacity and prepare us for continued success,” said West Fraser President and CEO Ray Ferris. ”I am delighted that each of these senior leaders has agreed to take on additional responsibilities within the company.”
Additionally, West Fraser has completed the acquisition of an oriented strand board (OSB) mill from Georgia-Pacific. West Fraser previously reported that it was paying $280 million for the Allendale, S.C. facility.
The Allendale facility began producing OSB in 2007 but has been idle since late 2019. The estimated capacity of the mill is approximately 760 million square feet (3/8-inch basis). West Fraser plans to invest about $70 million of additional capital to upgrade and optimize the facility in preparation for its restart and upgrades.
The completion of this acquisition follows West Fraser finalizing its $300 million purchase of a state-of-the-art, southern yellow pine lumber mill in Lufkin, Texas from Angelina Forest Products.
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
The company’s product portfolio includes lumber, engineered wood products (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, and particleboard), pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals, and renewable energy.
