Millar Western Appoints New Officers

EDMONTON, June 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. ("Millar Western") today announced two executive appointments. Both appointments take effect July 1, 2012, and both are made to replace retiring officers of the company.

Stefan Demharter, currently the company's General Manager, Wood Products, has been named Vice-President, Wood Products. In this role, he will provide strategic planning and oversight of all aspects of the company's manufacture and marketing of lumber and specialty wood products. Mr. Demharter succeeds Joseph Costantino, who will retire June 30, following 23 years of service to Millar Western. Mr. Demharter has been with the company for 11 years, and has experience in the forest products industry extending over 30 years.

Brian McConkey has been named Vice-President, Human Resources, responsible for providing leadership and coordination of employee recruitment, retention, development and compensation activities throughout the organization. Mr. McConkey succeeds David Keir, who is retiring June 30 after a 25-year career with the company. Mr. McConkey has been with Millar Western for 13 years, serving most recently as Director, Human Resources, and has 23 years' experience in the field of human resource management within the forest sector.

"We are very pleased to be making the appointments to these executive positions from within our company's ranks," said J. Craig Armstrong, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Brian and Stefan have each demonstrated their in-depth understanding of our company's strengths and our industry's opportunities, and we look forward to benefiting from their effective leadership in the years ahead."

Mr. Armstrong also commended the company's outgoing executives. "The Board of Directors of Millar Western wishes to thank Dave Keir and Joe Costantino for their outstanding contributions to our company over many years of dedicated service."

About Millar Western

Millar Western is an integrated forest products company based in Alberta, Canada, that produces and markets hardwood and softwood bleached chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp, or BCTMP, and softwood lumber. Millar Western is Alberta's largest privately held forest products company, a leading global marketer of BCTMP, among the lowest-cost producers of market BCTMP in the world and among the lowest-cost lumber producers in North America.

Kevin Edgson
Vice-President and CFO
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Janet Millar
Director, Communications
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