International Paper has appointed Katherine Collins and Lori J. Ryerkerk to its Board of Directors, effective October 1, 2026, to strengthen the board's strategic insight and operational expertise. The company also announced that Dr. Kathryn Sullivan and Ahmet Dorduncu will retire from the board at the end of 2026. The appointments and retirements mark a significant shift in the company's governance structure as it continues its transformation.

Katherine Collins brings over three decades of experience in asset management and sustainable investing. She most recently served as the first Head of Sustainable Investing at Putnam Investments, where she built the firm's sustainable investment platform into a top 10 U.S. sustainable asset manager with more than $10 billion in assets. Collins previously held senior investment roles at Fidelity, leading equity research for more than $500 billion in U.S. equity mutual fund assets. She is the founder and CEO of Honeybee Capital Foundation and holds a master's degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School.

Lori J. Ryerkerk joins the board with over four decades of experience in the global energy, chemicals, and specialty materials sectors. She most recently served as Chairman, President, and CEO of Celanese Corporation, leading the company through significant transformation, including the $11 billion acquisition of DuPont's Mobility & Materials business. Ryerkerk currently serves on the boards of Norfolk Southern, Cencora, and Eaton and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University.

Board Retirements

Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, who has served on the International Paper board since 2017, and Ahmet Dorduncu, who has served since 2011, will retire at the end of 2026. Their departures conclude long tenures of service to the company.

Leadership Commentary

Andy Silvernail, CEO and Chairman of the Board, emphasized the value of the new appointments. "Lori and Katherine each bring exceptional leadership experience and a proven ability to help guide organizations through complexity and change," Silvernail said. "Lori brings deep operational expertise and public company leadership experience, while Katherine brings a distinguished investment background and thoughtful governance perspective."

Silvernail also expressed gratitude for the outgoing directors. "I would also like to thank Kathy and Ahmet for their service and the many contributions they have made to International Paper throughout their time on our Board and wish them all the best in their future endeavors," he added.

RBC Capital analyst Matthew McKellar has maintained an Outperform rating on International Paper (NYSE: IP) while raising the stock's price target to $48 from $45. This adjustment aligns with a broader trend of positive revisions from major brokerage firms, signaling a revised outlook on the company's valuation and potential performance.

Rating and Price Action

The research notes confirm the firms' stances on the stock. The new price targets represent increases over the prior targets for all four firms.