New President and CEO Annoucement

As many of you know, I announced my plans for retirement at the end of this year.  It’s hard to believe I received the opportunity to serve and lead TAPPI and its members 19 years ago. Time really flies when you’re having fun, and I can genuinely say it’s been a great ride. I can say that because of all of you—our members and the TAPPI Community. I began this journey by listening to members and literally placing our members at the top of our organizational chart. I’ve had the honor of seeing new Divisions born, meeting members from all walks of life and seeing the industry come together to create educational content and safety programs that help our team members, family and friends come home safe each day.  I am proud of that work.

As I prepared for retirement, I wanted to take an active role in finding my successor.  After meeting with the TAPPI Board of Directors at the end of last year, we began plans to secure our next President and CEO.  To help with this endeavor, we partnered with the same recruiting firm that brought me to TAPPI almost two decades ago.

The Search Committee, made up of the Executive Committee, evaluated candidates to find the right person to lead us into our next season.

This lengthy process of evaluating and interviewing was intensive but worth the investment of time. The committee systematically paired down the number of candidates from approximately 20 to 6, then 2.  The final candidate selected was unanimously approved by our Board of Directors.

It is with great pleasure I announce, that Lawton C. Roberts, our current Chief Operating Officer has been selected as TAPPI’s next President and CEO effective November 3, 2025.  Lawton has been serving this organization since my arrival in 2006 and as a staff member since 2017.  His passion for our members and this industry is evident in how he serves.  I am confident in his ability to carry the torch of this great organization into a healthy and prosperous future.

Lawton and I will work hand in hand the remainder of 2025 to ensure a successful and seamless transition into 2026. I have loved my time at TAPPI and humbled to be able to select someone that can continue the great work we all have been part of. We will continue to keep you informed with updates on exciting new things to come.

Best regards,
Larry N. Montague
TAPPI President & CEO