Wunderlich quits Linpac for ‘irresistible’ role with post-Alcan Amcor

Wunderlich will be based in Singapore and will take up the role on 1 January. He joined Linpac Plastics, as it was then known, in October 2007 and renamed it Linpac Packaging as well as implementing a successful new business structure.

However, he has a strong history with Amcor. Prior to joining the $1bn-turnover Linpac Packaging, Wunderlich headed up Alcan Packaging Global Tobacco and has previously worked in Asia Pacific for the Australian group.

He today told Packaging News: “Being part of the world’s leading packaging group, as Amcor will be after the acquisition of Alcan, is hugely exciting. It was an offer that I couldn’t resist.”

Linpac was not available for comment this morning on who will replace Wunderlich.

Today’s announcement from Amcor comes just before the EU is due to publish its judgment on the $2bn Amcor-Alcan deal on Monday. The combined business will be structured into seven units that report directly to chief executive Ken Mackenzie.

Mackenzie said the firm had evaluated senior internal and external candidates to find presidents for the divisions. “The task now is to populate the next level of management using the same objective and rigorous evaluation of candidates.”

Peter Brues, who currently presides Amcor Flexibles Healthcare, will become president of the $5bn-turnover Amcor Flexibles Europe and Americas division. It combines the existing Amcor Flexibles Food and Healthcare as well as Alcan Packaging Global Pharmaceutical and Food Europe.

Amcor Australasia will continue as a separate business unit, but the flexibles business will move over to Asia-Pacific.

Amcor Rigid Plastics will consist of the Amcor PET, Bericap closures and Alcan Packaging Pharma plastics division and be led by Bill Long. Peter Kosniecny will lead the tobacco packaging division.

Amcor Sunclipse and AMVIG Holdings remain unchanged.

Czech flexibles plant
Meanwhile, Alcan has started production trials at the flexible packaging facility in Novy Bydzov in the Czech Republic, which will employ 110 people when it goes into full production.

The new plant will focus primarily on high quality rotogravure-printed flexible packaging for markets in Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordic region.

Amcor announced the purchase of part of Alcan Packaging in August, but the deal is still subject to regulatory approval in Europe and the US.

The original deadline for the European Commission was 30 November, but this was pushed back to Monday (14 December).

Last month, Amcor mooted the possibility of selling a flexible packaging plant to help clear the deal with European authorities.

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