John Williams, former president and CEO of Domtar, has transitioned from his role as non-executive chairman of the Domtar Management Board to a new advisory position supporting Domtar’s owner, Jackson Wijaya.
Williams has been appointed senior advisor to the Owner’s Office, a role that will allow him to remain engaged with the organization while devoting more time to his health. The change is effective immediately.
Williams led Domtar as president and CEO from 2009 to 2023, a period marked by significant strategic repositioning. Under his leadership, the company expanded beyond its traditional paper manufacturing roots to become a diversified forest products producer with a broader market footprint.
In 2023, Williams moved into the role of non-executive chairman of the Paper Excellence Group as legacy companies Paper Excellence, Resolute Forest Products, and Domtar began integrating their operations. He later played a key role in aligning the three organizations under the Domtar brand, supporting the creation of a unified, privately held forest products company.
Recognized for his customer-focused and long-term strategic approach, Williams has been widely credited with guiding Domtar through major industry shifts and corporate transformation. In his new advisory capacity, he will continue to provide strategic insight while stepping back from day-to-day governance responsibilities.
Domtar is a privately held forest products company producing pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products, with manufacturing operations across North America.
Source: Domtar
