Millar Western to appoint new President and CEO

EDMONTON, March 29 /CNW/ - H. MacKenzie (Mac) Millar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., today announced plans for a senior management appointment to take place in the company later this year.

Effective July 1, 2010, J. Craig Armstrong, now serving as Millar Western's Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, will be appointed to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and named to the company's board of directors. Effective the same date, Mac Millar will become Co-Chair of the company, serving alongside his brother, and current company Chair, James B. Millar. All other members of the Millar Western Forest Products executive will continue in their current positions.

Craig Armstrong joined Millar Western Pulp in 1987 as Director of Sales and Marketing, becoming Vice-President of Sales and Marketing in 1990. He was part of the executive team when Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. was incorporated in 1998 and has served the company as Chief Operating Officer since 2006. In all capacities, Mr. Armstrong has brought the benefit of his proven leadership, outstanding business acumen, in-depth knowledge of the industry and thorough appreciation of the unique strengths that make Millar Western the company it is.

As Co-Chairs, Jim and Mac Millar will continue their active involvement in the leadership of the business and in defining the company's strategic direction. There will be no other changes to the structure of Millar Western, which will remain a private company owned by the Millar family.

Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. is a privately held forest products company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, and operating dimension lumber and high-yield pulp facilities in the Alberta communities of Whitecourt, Boyle and Fox Creek.

For further information: Louise Riopel, Communications Manager, [phone]