David W. Scheible, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Named RISI North American CEO of the Year

ATLANTA, June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphic Packaging International, Inc. (NYSE: GPK) announces that Chairman and CEO David Scheible has been named the RISI 2015 North American CEO of the Year.

RISI, the leading publisher of information for the global forest products industry, selects the CEO of the Year from nominations by investment analysts and portfolio managers covering the forest products sector.  This year's award will be presented on September 30 at the Annual RISI North American Conference in Chicago.

Under Scheible's leadership, Graphic Packaging has transformed into a pure-play, vertically integrated global paperboard packaging company with a clear growth strategy, focused on expanding the business and delivering long-term shareholder value. The company has more than doubled its size and significantly improved its profitability.  Stock price has more than tripled since 2012 as the company sharpened its focus on core markets of food, beverage and consumer products through both organic growth and considerable acquisition-based growth around the world. 

During his tenure, Mr. Scheible has fostered a well-led company culture where more than 12,500 global employees exemplify a commitment to corporate values, operational excellence, customer focus, sustainability and continuous improvement.  GPI's strong ongoing investments across its paperboard mills and converting facilities have resulted in a top quality and cost position within the industry.  The company creates significant customer value through meaningful innovation platforms.      

Forward Looking Statements

Any statements of the Company's expectations in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including but not limited to those regarding the effect of the acquisition on the Company's competitive position, expected synergies and earnings and the timing of the closing, are based on currently available information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's present expectations.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to successfully integrate the acquisition and achieve synergies, the timing of regulatory approvals, inflation of and volatility in raw material and energy costs, cutbacks in consumer spending that could affect demand for the Company's products or actions taken by our customers in response to the difficult economic environment, continuing pressure for lower cost products, the Company's ability to implement its business strategies, including productivity initiatives and cost reduction plans, currency movements and other risks of conducting business internationally, volatility in the credit and securities markets and the impact of regulatory and litigation matters, including the continued availability of the Company's net operating loss offset to taxable income, and those that impact the Company's ability to protect and use its intellectual property.  Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements.  Additional information regarding these and other risks is contained in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC.

About Graphic Packaging Holding Company

Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading provider of packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage and other consumer products companies. The Company is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and holds a leading market position in coated-unbleached kraft and coated-recycled board. The Company's customers include some of the most widely recognized companies in the world.

SOURCE Graphic Packaging International, Inc.