By Business & Finance 
Tony Smurfit, CEO, Smurfit Kappa Group
Packaging manufacturers Smurfit Kappa Group has announced today that Tony Smurfit has officially replaced Gary McGann as CEO.
Employing 43,000 staff across 33 countries in the world, Smurfit Kappa is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world.
Tony Smurfit succeeds Gary McGann as Group CEO, a man who has been vital to the company’s success since being made CEO in 2002. He was previously president and COO of the Smurfit Group since January 2000, having joined the company in 1998 as chief financial officer.
Liam O’Mahony, chairman, Smurfit Kappa, commented: “The Board would like to thank Gary for his substantial contribution in leading the Group over the last 13 years and wishes him well in his retirement. The Board looks forward to the Group’s next phase of growth and development under Tony’s leadership.”
Tony Smurfit has served as a director since 1989 and was appointed Group chief operations officer in November 2002.
He has worked in various parts of the Smurfit Kappa Group, both in Europe and the United States since he joined the Group. He was chief executive of Smurfit Europe from October 1999 to 2002 prior to which he was deputy chief executive of Smurfit Europe and previously chief executive officer of Smurfit France.
