Great Northern Paper Hires Industry Veteran Ned Dwyer as President

Great Northern Paper (GNP), a subsidiary of Cate Street Capital, has announced that Ned Dwyer is the company’s new president.  Dwyer replaces CEO, Richard Cyr, who has served as GNP’s acting president for the last 12 months.  Cyr will remain as GNP’s CEO, as well as CEO of Thermogen Industries, which is developing a torrefied wood manufacturing facility at the company’s site in Millinocket.   Dwyer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Paper Science & Engineering from the State University of New York and Syracuse University, and brings more than 26 years of relevant industry experience to his new role as president of GNP.

CEO Richard Cyr said, “We conducted an exhaustive search for our new president, and we’re very happy to have landed Ned, a skilled and qualified paper industry operations manager.  Having worked in a variety of manufacturing, commercial and technical roles for International Paper, EB Eddy and Weidmann, Ned has succeeded in general management positions both in the U.S. and abroad.”  Cyr added that the transition is expected to be seamless, as George McLaughlin will remain GNP’s Manufacturing Manager, helping Dwyer get up to speed very quickly on GNP’s full operations and skilled workforce.

“I am proud to have been chosen to lead Great Northern Paper, a company that has shown steady growth since Cate Street Capital resurrected the mill in 2011.   My goal is to continue that growth, as the mill undergoes exciting improvements this year,” said Dwyer.

Cyr said Dwyer will be responsible for the mill’s day-to-day management and long-term business growth.  He will be leading a mill committed to retaining 257 jobs and the potential creation of another 45-50 positions by the end of 2013.  He began his duties at the mill this week.

Dwyer is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served in the Strategic Air Command, primarily in Minot, North Dakota.  He and his wife Linda have three children and a Labrador retriever.  They are looking forward to making a home in Maine and enjoying all the outdoor recreational opportunities the Katahdin region has to offer.