James Cropper, a company specialising in advanced materials, paper, and packaging, has appointed Paul Barber as the new managing director of its paper and packaging division.
Barber’s appointment coincides with James Cropper’s 180th anniversary and follows the consolidation of James Cropper Speciality Paper, Colourform, and Technical Fibre Products into a single entity, now operating under the James Cropper name and a refreshed brand identity.
After carrying out a transformation programme that involved streamlining its portfolio and improving operations, James Cropper has made several strategic key appointments, with Barber joining the team following David Stirling’s recent appointment as CEO.
Barber brings more than 25 years of experience in the paper and packaging industry, having begun his career as an area sales manager with Sonoco.
He held positions at Weidenhammer Packaging Group, Smurfit Kappa, DS Smith, and Corrboard, before taking the lead at Coveris Group.
Barber’s experience encompasses expertise in fostering customer partnerships and excellence programmes, driving operational stability and growth, investment planning, new product development, employee engagement strategies, and expanding manufacturing capabilities.
Barber said: “During my tenure in the paper and packaging industry, I have long admired James Cropper for its history of quality manufacturing, innovation, navigating challenges and deep-rooted ESG [environmental, social, and governance] values.
“This role presents a unique opportunity to be part of a first-rate team. My focus will be on creating an environment where our employees can thrive and mobilising their knowledge and expertise to accelerate bespoke solutions for our customers.
“I’ll also be aligning our strong operational ability and introducing new systems and processes to support our customer base.”
Last September, James Cropper developed technology capable of converting polycotton waste into high-quality paper.
