Glatfelter, one of the global suppliers of specialty papers and fibre-based engineered materials, has promoted Christopher Astley to senior vice president and business unit president for Advanced Airlaid Materials (AMBU), effective immediately.

In this new role, Astley will have overall Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility, and will lead the development as well as implementation of strategic and tactical plans for the business, Glatfelter said in a statement.

Astley had been senior vice president, corporate strategy of Glatfelter. Prior to joining Glatfelter, he served in various consulting roles for more than 15 years in the pulp, paper, and packaging industries. He held positions with Accenture in its strategic services practice and with Coca-Cola, supporting long-term strategy development in its North American business unit. Astley also successfully led a privately held firm serving the commercial construction industry.

Astley holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Richmond.

Dante Parrini, chairman and chief executive officer of Glatfelter said, “Since joining Glatfelter in August 2010, Astley has demonstrated a track record of leadership and hands-on execution that has created value for the Company and our shareholders. He has been a key driver of the development of the strategy for the Company as a whole as well as specifically for AMBU. I look forward to his continued success in this new leadership role.”

Astley succeeds Jonathan Bourget, who will be leaving the Company after assisting in a transition period.

Headquartered in New York, Pennsylvania, Glatfelter operates in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, and Chillicothe and Fremont in Ohio. (GK)