The CEO of Louisiana Pacific Corporation and Chair of the Board of Directors at the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Curt Stevens, is pleased to announce that Derek Nighbor will be the association’s new CEO.

Nighbor has been senior vice-president of Food & Consumer Products of Canada where he oversaw federal, provincial and territorial government relations, community and corporate partnerships and membership development. Before this, he was senior vice-president with the Retail Council of Canada, and served as chief of staff to the Ontario’s Consumer and Business Services Minister. He will start on his new position on March 7, 2016.

Stevens said Nighbor will be a good fit for FPAC ““I am pleased that Derek will be joining FPAC as our CEO next month,” said Stevens. “His years of government and association experience will serve us well as FPAC continues to highlight our global leadership in sustainable forest management,” he concluded.

“From coast-to-coast the forestry industry is quintessentially Canadian. As a native of the Ottawa Valley, I have seen first-hand how important the sector is to local communities”, Nighbor said. “It’s about sustainable growth, good jobs, thoughtful partnerships and expanding export markets. I am proud to join FPAC and look forward to working with its members and many partners along the value chain so the industry can reach its full potential,” he added.

Stevens would like to thank Paul Lansbergen for his energy, dedication and hard work in filling the role as acting CEO at FPAC. He will remain as an integral part of the FPAC management team.