Joseph Saab has become senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of International Paper, effective July 1.
Saab joined Memphis, Tennessee-based International Paper in 2001 as legal counsel for environment, health and safety having previously worked as an environmental lawyer. From 2005 to 2010, he held a variety of positions in the company’s corporate law group, including chief counsel for global governance and compliance and general counsel for Paper the Americas. In 2014, he became associate general counsel for industrial packaging in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In 2019, Saab became vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant corporate secretary, a role in which he was responsible for corporate law and ‘enterprise operational excellence’, according to the company, in addition to overseeing support for and advising the board.
SUCCESSOR TO SHARON RYAN
Saab succeeds Sharon Ryan, who retired on June 30.
Ryan joined International Paper in 1988 and became senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary in 2011. She had previously held a variety of legal roles, including chief ethics and compliance officer.
International Paper chair and CEO Mark Sutton says in a statement: ‘Sharon has been an exceptional business partner and mentor throughout her 34 years of service. I appreciate all her accomplishments and contributions and wish her health and happiness in the years ahead.
‘Throughout his time with [the company], Joe has proven himself to be an effective and capable leader. I have every confidence that he will provide the legal expertise and leadership we need as he takes on this new role and joins our senior lead team.’
Ben Maiden
Ben Maiden is the editor-at-large of Governance Intelligence, an IR Media publication, having joined the company in December 2016. He is based in New York. Ben was previously managing editor of Compliance Reporter, covering regulatory and compliance...
