Cepi, the Confederation of European Paper Industries, has appointed Francesca Stevens as Director General, effective September 28, 2026. She succeeds Jori Ringman, who has led the Brussels-based association since 2019.
Stevens joins Cepi from EUROPEN, the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment, where she has served as Secretary General since 2020. In that role, she represented companies across the packaging value chain, including raw-material producers, packaging manufacturers and users.
She brings 25 years of experience in European industry organisations and public-affairs leadership. Before joining EUROPEN, Stevens held senior roles at Arconic and Alcoa. She holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Turin and a master’s degree in European Studies from the College of Europe in Warsaw.
At Cepi, Stevens will lead a 24-person secretariat and work with its national associations to represent the European pulp and paper industry before EU institutions and other stakeholders.
Her appointment comes as the sector continues to address energy decarbonisation, industrial competitiveness, access to competitively priced energy and an evolving EU regulatory environment. Cepi is also positioning the pulp and paper industry within broader European policy discussions around the circular bioeconomy.
“It is a great honour to be entrusted with leading Cepi,” Stevens said. She said the sector’s renewable resources, industrial capabilities and culture of innovation position it to play a leading role in Europe’s circular bioeconomy.
Cepi Chairman and Holmen CEO Henrik Sjölund said Stevens’ experience in European policymaking and industrial value chains would help strengthen the sector’s voice in Europe.
Cepi represents the European pulp and paper industry through 19 national associations. Its members include companies producing paper, packaging, tissue, specialty papers and other wood-fibre-based products, as well as biochemicals, biocomposites and bioenergy. According to Cepi, its membership covers 450 companies operating 740 mills across Europe and directly employing more than 176,000 people.
