WestRock Announces Chief Executive Officer of Ingevity


NORCROSS, Ga., Aug. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK) today announced that D. Michael Wilson will be the chief executive officer of the company's specialty chemicals business that is expected to become a publicly traded company, Ingevity, early next year as a result of a spin-off from WestRock. He will join the company on September 1, 2015.

"Michael Wilson brings breadth and depth of specialty chemicals experience to Ingevity," said Steve Voorhees, chief executive officer of WestRock. "His exceptional leadership skills and outstanding track record of delivering results will serve Ingevity and its stockholders well."

Michael comes to Ingevity from Albemarle Corporation where he most recently served as executive vice president leading Albemarle's Performance Chemicals business. Prior to that, Michael led Albemarle's Catalyst Solutions business and held a variety of business unit leadership roles at FMC, Wausau Papers and Rexam. He holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina and a master of business administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.

About WestRock

WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK) aspires to be the premier partner and unrivaled provider of paper and packaging solutions in consumer and corrugated markets. WestRock's 42,000 team members support customers around the world from approximately 275 operating and business locations spanning North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Learn more at westrock.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "prospects," "potential" and "forecast," and other words, terms and phrases of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties. WestRock cautions readers that a forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectation that the spin-off of the specialty chemicals business will be completed early next year. With respect to these statements, WestRock has made assumptions regarding, among other things, whether and when the spin-off of WestRock's specialty chemicals business will occur; economic, competitive and market conditions generally; volumes and price levels of purchases by customers; competitive conditions in WestRock's businesses and possible adverse actions of their customers, competitors and suppliers. Further, WestRock's businesses are subject to a number of general risks that would affect any such forward-looking statements including, among others, decreases in demand for their products; increases in energy, raw materials, shipping and capital equipment costs; reduced supply of raw materials; fluctuations in selling prices and volumes; intense competition; the potential loss of certain customers; the scope, costs, timing and impact of any restructuring of our operations and corporate and tax structure; and adverse changes in general market and industry conditions. Such risks and other factors that may impact management's assumptions are more particularly described in Rock-Tenn Company's and MeadWestvaco Corporation's past filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption "Business – Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" in RockTenn's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 and "Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations – Forward-looking Statements" and "Risk factors" in MeadWestvaco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. These risks, as well as other risks associated with RockTenn, MeadWestvaco and WestRock are also more fully discussed under the caption "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by WestRock on March 10, 2015 (which registration statement was amended on April 20, 2015, May 6, 2015, and May 18, 2015, and was declared effective on May 19, 2015). The information contained herein speaks as of the date hereof and WestRock does not have or undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contacts:
John Stakel
Senior Vice President, Treasurer
678-291-7901
john.stakel@westrock.com

Jason Thompson
Director, Investor Relations
804-444-2556
jason.thompson@westrock.com

Media Contact:
Sarah Hogeboom
Manager, Corporate Communications
804-444-6397
mediainquiries@westrock.com