Sylvamo has unveiled a leadership succession plan as CEO and Chairman Jean-Michel Ribiéras prepares to retire on December 31, 2025.
As part of the transition, the company’s current CFO, John Sims, has been appointed chief operating officer (COO), effective May 1, 2025. He will assume the role of chief executive officer on January 1, 2026.
As COO, Sims will take charge of Sylvamo’s commercial and operational functions for the remainder of 2025, while Ribiéras continues to oversee corporate strategy and governance until his retirement. Don Devlin has been named senior vice president and chief financial officer, also effective May 1, succeeding Sims.
“We thank Jean-Michel for his exceptional leadership in shaping Sylvamo into the world’s paper company,” said David Petratis, lead independent director of the board. “John has been central to Sylvamo’s success since its creation, and Don’s broad experience makes him the ideal CFO for our future.”
Ribiéras, who became Sylvamo’s first CEO in 2021 following its spinoff from International Paper, has spent more than 35 years in the paper and packaging industry. His leadership helped establish the company’s global presence across three continents, and he continues to serve on several major industry boards.
John Sims also joined Sylvamo at its inception, bringing deep operational expertise from his 27-year career at International Paper. His background includes leadership roles in both North American and European markets. Devlin, the incoming CFO, also brings a strong track record in strategy and finance, having held senior roles at International Paper, including most recently vice president, transformation and strategy deployment.
Sylvamo, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, operates paper mills across Europe, Latin America, and North America, with over 6,500 employees. The company reported $3.8 billion in net sales for 2024 and remains focused on sustainable growth and industry leadership.
