North America leadership team

Mike Haws

Mike Haws
President and CEO

Mike Haws was named President and CEO of Sappi North America in 2019 and is responsible for leading all Sappi operations in the region. Previously he was the Vice President, Manufacturing responsible for the Somerset, Cloquet and Allentown operations as well as the Research and Development facility. Mr. Haws joined Sappi in 2012 as Managing Director of the Somerset Mill. Prior to Sappi, he held a variety of operational roles with Verso Paper, International Paper and Champion International. Mr. Haws has over 30 years of experience in the paper industry and holds a BS in Paper Science and Engineering from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Anne Ayer

Anne Ayer
Vice President, Pulp Business and Supply Chain

In addition to managing Sappi North America’s Pulp Business since 2015, Ms. Ayer became responsible for Logistics and Operations Planning in 2018 and Procurement in 2019. Her previous experience includes leading Strategic and Corporate Development initiatives from 2006 through 2018 and serving as Chief Information Officer and Vice President, Fiber Resources and Corporate Development. Prior to joining Sappi in 1996, she worked as a consultant at the Monitor Company, a strategic consulting firm. She has an MBA from Stanford University and a BA in Psychology from Harvard.

Paul Bartolan

Paul Bartolan
Vice President of Research, Development and Sustainability

After joining Sappi Europe in 1996, Paul spent the next 22 years in a variety of business management, marketing, sales and finance roles within Sappi Europe and Sappi South Africa, including General Manager of Sappi South Africa’s Paper business.  In 2018, Paul joined Sappi North America as the Director of Graphics Web and Coated Business. In 2020, he assumed the role of Director, Packaging and Graphics and became accountable for all brand management, product management and marketing communications. Paul is a University of South Africa graduate with a degree in business economics.

Deece Hannigan

Deece Hannigan
Vice President Graphics, Packaging and Specialties

Deece Hannigan was named Vice President, Packaging and Specialties Business in May 2017. Mr. Hannigan’s responsibilities include leading the Packaging and Release business units together with Sales and Inside Sales. Mr. Hannigan began his career with Sappi as a sales representative in 1988. He has since served in a variety of leadership positions in Coated Sales, Specialties, Marketing, and Manufacturing. Most recently, he was the Vice President of Coated Paper and Packaging. Mr. Hannigan is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a BA in Political Science.

Annette Luchene

Annette Luchene
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Annette Luchene was named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2004. She is accountable for all finance, treasury and accounting functions, in addition to leading the Information Technology and Lean Six Sigma organizations. Ms. Luchene joined Sappi in 1996 as Director of Management Accounting and then Director of Finance. Prior to her time at Sappi, she spent ten years with Packaging Corporation of America, a division of Tenneco and Ply Gem Industries, where she worked in various accounting and finance positions. Ms. Luchene has an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago and a BS in Accounting from Northern Illinois University.

Sarah Manchester

Sarah Manchester
Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel

Sarah Manchester was named Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel of Sappi Fine Paper North America in 2006. She is responsible for leading the human resources and legal functions as well as government affairs and corporate communications. Since joining Sappi in 1997, Ms. Manchester has held a variety of roles, including Assistant General Counsel and Vice President and General Counsel. Prior to her time at Sappi, Sarah was an associate at the global law firm, Ropes & Gray. She has a BA in History from Dartmouth College and a JD from Cornell Law School.

Mike Schultz

Mike Schultz
Vice President, Manufacturing

Mike Schultz was appointed as the Vice President of Manufacturing for Sappi North America in September 2019. Mike joined the Cloquet mill in 1990, serving in several roles at the mill, most recently as Managing Director. Mike played a key role in the construction of the pulp mill during the 1990s and in 2011 to 2013 managed the highly successful conversion of the pulp mill to produce dissolving pulp. During Mike’s tenure the mill achieved an impressive environmental and sustainability record and surpassed over one million hours without a lost time injury five times. Mike holds a BS in Paper Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.