Personnel Notes

DS Smith hires new directors, managers

DS Smith, a packaging company with corporate headquarters in London, has appointed several new directors and managers in recent months. The company has appointed Giancarlo Maroto as its Paper Division director in North America. James Walker, who previously held that position, now serves as director of DS Smith’s Paper Division in Northern Europe.

Before joining DS Smith, Maroto worked for Austria-based Mondi Group, where he held various executive positions, including managing director of the Sack Kraft Paper business in North America, managing director of the containerboard business in Turkey and corporate head of digital transformation. 

In his new position, Maroto oversees operations at DS Smith’s mills in Riceboro, Georgia, and in Reading, Pennsylvania, as well as the company’s North American recycling and forestry operations.

In his new position, Walker is responsible for paper production across some of DS Smith’s largest paper mills in the U.K., France and the Netherlands. He takes over for Rogier Gerritsen, who now serves as the company’s head of recycling.

Ryan Roberts is the company’s new sheeter business unit general manager for the North American division. Roberts’ background includes leadership roles in contract packaging, manufacturing engineering, sales, marketing and commercial operations in the U.S. and Singapore for Unilever and Sealed Air. 

Troy Hagenbuch is a specialty business unit general manager at DS Smith’s Greencoat facility in Columbia, South Carolina. Hagenbuch brings leadership experience from International Paper, FiberMark and Cenveo Corp.

Melanie Galloway is the vice president of sales, marketing and innovation for Packaging at DS Smith. She previously worked for FMC Corp., Kemin Industries, JM Huber and MacDermid Graphic Solutions.

The company has hired Steven Pittler as sales director for DS Smith’s Lebanon, Indiana, packaging facility. Prior to this position, Pittler was the Midwest regional manager at Atlantic Tape and Packaging. He has knowledge in operations, as well as commercial experience across multiple site businesses.

DS Smith also hired Adam Olson as sales director for Greencoat. Olson previously worked for companies in the food industry, such as Sysco, where he implemented strategies to drive top line growth while building relationships with key customers.

Detroit Edge Tool names East Coast sales representative

Detroit Edge Tool Co., headquartered in Detroit, has announced that Dave Fodor has been hired as the company’s East Coast sales representative. He will be based out of his home in Youngstown, Ohio.

Fodor has 10 years of experience in the scrap and construction and demolition recycling industries, including working as regional account manager at Superior, Wisconsin-based BladeCore, which supplies replacement blades for mobile shears and stationary shears.

Detroit Edge Tool manufactures mobile and stationary shear blades. The company also offers machine ways and rails, surface grinding, large CNC machining, machine knives, flame hardening, wear plates and liners to industries globally.

In memoriam: Scott Edwards

Scott Edwards, sales director at Wendt Corp., Buffalo, New York, died Aug. 23 from cancer at the age of 54. Edwards joined the Wendt sales team in 2013.

Company President Tom Wendt states, “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Scott have lost a dear friend and colleague. Scott was fascinated by the scrap industry and thrived in his leadership position in his six years at Wendt. His dedication and knowledge of the industry has been an integral part of our company’s success and growth. No words can adequately express our sadness and grief over Scott’s passing or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him.”

Wendt Corp. has set up a tribute page that features a video remembrance at www.wendtcorp.com/mourning-the-loss-of-scott-edwards.

In memoriam: Nicolas Belanger

Nicolas Belanger, the executive vice president of sales at Vaughn, Ontario-based Torxx Kinetic Pulverizer Ltd., died in mid-September, one week before his 50th birthday, the company says.

“Our hearts are heavy, and we’re stunned by the untimely and devastating passing of our colleague, friend and industry icon,” says Peter Everson, Torxx chairman. “Nicolas has been instrumental in moving our company—and the industry—forward over the last 25 years. He is a talented engineer and strong business leader whose industry knowledge and experience are second to none. He is greatly missed, and we share the grief of his family, friends and colleagues—including his wife, Nadine, who continues to be a valued member of the Torxx family.”

Belanger was the former co-owner of Plessisville, Quebec-based Machinex Industries Inc. He helped that firm gain market share as a provider of equipment for the material recovery facility (MRF) sector. Belanger also is the co-founder, co-owner and president of Trois-Rivières, Quebec-based Waste Robotics.