Our Leaders

Andrew “Andy” Silvernail joined International Paper as Chief Executive Officer on May 1, 2024. He became chairman of the International Paper Board of Directors on October 1, 2024.

Silvernail has two decades of experience leading global companies in the manufacturing and technology sectors. He joins IP from KKR & Co., Inc., a global investment firm, where he served as an executive advisor. Silvernail served as the Chairman and CEO of Madison Industries, one of the world's largest privately held companies. Prior to that, Silvernail served as Chairman and CEO of IDEX Corporation from 2011 to 2020. Employee engagement reached best-in-class performance and total shareholder return grew by more than 500% during his tenure at IDEX. Silvernail previously held executive positions at Rexnord Industries, Newell Rubbermaid and Danaher Corporation. He serves on the Board of Directors of Stryker Corporation.

Silvernail earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. 

Clay Ellis joined International Paper in 1992. Over the course of his career, he has served in a variety of manufacturing, engineering, technical, commercial and leadership roles.

He became an officer of the company in 2012. In 2019, he was elected senior vice president, Enterprise Operational Excellence. In 2023, Ellis was named into his current role, senior vice president Global Cellulose Fibers.

He serves on the board of The National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI) as well as Seeding Success, which is a Memphis “cradle to career” partnership for children. Ellis previously served on the board of directors for the National Paper Trade Association and AF&PA printing, writing and pulp sectors, as well as the Memphis Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Ellis earned a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Louisiana State University, and completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

Aimee Gregg was elected senior vice president, supply chain and information technology in January 2023. In this role, she has leadership responsibility for the global sourcing, disruptive technologies and operational excellence organizations. Aimee joined International Paper in 2002 in a salesforce effectiveness role and has served in a variety of sales, operations and leadership roles in our North American Industrial Packaging business. She was appointed a company officer in 2018 and most recently served as vice president and general manager, Containerboard and Recycling. 

Aimee represents the company as Chairperson for the AF&PA Containerboard Sector. Within her community, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Women’s Foundation of Greater Memphis. Aimee earned her MBA from Clemson University.

Tom Hamic joined International Paper in 1991. Over the course of his career, he  has served in a variety of sales, marketing, finance, strategic planning and leadership roles in the United States and Europe. 

In 2009, Hamic was named a company officer, and in 2018, he was elected senior vice president. From 2020 to 2022, Hamic led IP’s Global Cellulose Fibers business and the company’s commercial efforts. In 2023, Hamic was named senior vice president, North American Container and Chief Commercial Officer.

Hamic holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a Masters of Business Administration – both from the University of Virginia.  

Allison Magness was elected senior vice president, manufacturing and environment, health & safety (EHS) in January 2023. In this role, she heads the company’s manufacturing leadership as well as the technology & capital execution, fiber supply and EHS organizations. Allison joined the company as a process engineer in 2000 and was named an officer in 2016. She has held a variety of engineering, manufacturing and leadership roles, most recently serving as vice president, South Area, North American Container. Allison earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University.

Tim Nicholls was elected International Paper’s senior vice president and chief financial officer in June 2018, a position he previously held from 2007 to 2011.

Nicholls has nearly three decades of experience in the packaging and paper industry. He joined International Paper in 1999 through the company's acquisition of Union Camp, where he held a series of finance, business planning and leadership positions. He has held numerous roles at International Paper including senior vice president, industrial packaging the Americas, leading the company’s papers and pulp the Americas business and serving as vice president and chief financial officer for International Paper Europe. He was also president of Weldwood, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Paper in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Tom Plath joined International Paper in 1991 as a human resources associate at the Thilmany Mill in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. After working in a variety of business HR roles in the specialty industrial papers business, he was named director, human resources, International Paper Europe in 1997. In 2000, he was named director strategic planning, International Paper Europe.

Between 2001 and 2010, Plath served in the company’s distribution business, xpedx, where he held roles in operations, marketing and general management. He was named vice president of human resources for xpedx in 2006.

In September 2010, he was named director, human resources - manufacturing, for International Paper. He was appointed as an officer of the company in April 2013 and was named vice president, human resources - manufacturing, technology, EHS&S and global supply chain. From November 2014 until February 2017, Plath served as vice president, human resources, global businesses. He was elected senior vice president, human resources and global citizenship in 2017. In January 2023, he was named senior vice president, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, with responsibilities for Human Resources, Aviation, Real Estate, Communications, Sustainability and Government Relations. 

Plath is a member of the board of directors for the Health Transformation Alliance and for Reading is Fundamental (RIF). He is also a member of the board of regents for Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee.

Plath received his bachelor’s degree in education from Martin Luther College and his MBA from Vanderbilt University.

As previously announced, Plath will leave International Paper at the end of the year and will serve in an advisory capacity until then. 

James (Jay) Royalty joined International Paper in 1991 and has served in a variety of converting, sales, marketing, finance and leadership roles. In 2008, Royalty was named a company officer and was elected senior vice president, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), in 2019.

Royalty earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Joseph Saab joined International Paper in 2001 as legal counsel for Environment, Health and Safety after working as an environmental lawyer for several years. From 2005-2010, he served in various positions in the corporate law group, including chief counsel – global governance and compliance and general counsel, Paper the Americas. In 2014, Saab was named associate general counsel – Industrial Packaging, Europe, Middle East and Africa. 

In 2019, Saab was named vice president, deputy general counsel, and assistant corporate secretary where he maintained responsibility for corporate law and enterprise operational excellence, as well as overseeing support for and advising the Board of Directors. He was elected senior vice president, general counsel & corporate secretary on July 1, 2022. 

Ksenia Sosnina was elected senior vice president, Europe, the Middle East & Africa in July 2023. Sosnina first joined International Paper in 2013 as an officer and vice president leading the company’s Russian papers business. She became a member of the Ilim Group Board of Directors in 2015 and was subsequently nominated as Chief Executive Officer of the Ilim Group in 2016. With over 25 years of industry experience, she has served in various positions, including general manager and vice president Packaging for Stora Enso, prior to joining International Paper.

Sosnina was recognized as European CEO of the Year 2020 by RISI Fastmarkets, and the first woman to be nominated for this award.

Sosnina holds a Master’s degree in Economy & Finance from the Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering (MEPhI), Obninsk, Russia. She also completed a business internship in Marketing and Finance at the University of South Carolina, USA.