Cepi, the Confederation of European Paper Industries, has appointed Francesca Stevens as its new Director General. She took up the position on 28 September 2026, succeeding Jori Ringman, who has led the association since 2019.
Stevens joins Cepi from Europen, the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment, where she served as Secretary General from 2020. In this role, she represented a cross-sectoral value chain involving raw-material producers, packaging manufacturers and users, actively engaging in key EU policy debates on sustainability, circularity, competitiveness and the Single Market.
She brings 25 years of experience in leading European industry organisations. Before joining Europen, she held senior leadership positions at Arconic and Alcoa. She holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Turin and a master’s degree in European Studies from the College of Europe in Warsaw.
Her appointment comes at a crucial time for Europe’s pulp and paper industry, which is advancing its energy decarbonisation efforts while seeking to strengthen its role in the circular bioeconomy. The sector also faces significant challenges related to global industrial competitiveness, access to competitively priced energy and an increasingly complex EU regulatory framework.
As Director General, Stevens will lead Cepi’s Brussels-based secretariat, comprising 24 staff members, and work closely with the association’s members and national industry associations to represent the European pulp and paper sector before EU institutions and other stakeholders.
Commenting on her appointment, Stevens said: “It is a great honour to be entrusted with leading Cepi. Europe’s pulp and paper industry has everything it takes to lead the circular bioeconomy: renewable resources rooted in our communities, world-class industrial capabilities and a strong culture of innovation. I look forward to working with our team, members, Board, committees, CEO Forum and partners to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness and place it at the heart of Europe’s industrial future.”
Cepi Chairman and Holmen CEO Henrik Sjölund welcomed the appointment, highlighting Stevens’ expertise in European policymaking and her understanding of industrial value chains. He expressed confidence in her ability to provide a strong and united voice for the industry at a decisive moment for the sector.