DS Smith Group Chief Executive, Miles Roberts, RISI’S 2012 European CEO of the Year

We are pleased to announce that RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, has named DS Smith Group Chief Executive, Miles Roberts, as the European CEO of the Year 2012.

Criteria for nomination included leadership, vision and strategic accomplishment. Mr Roberts was selected as the winner due to his significant achievements and overall leadership of DS Smith since becoming Group Chief Executive in May 2010.

A number of analysts praised Mr Roberts’ business strategy, which offers a significant return to shareholders. One analyst said that “DS Smith is one of the few companies in the sector that has a good recent track record of generating value with returns greater than capital cost”, whilst another commented on the company's “excellent integration of French producer Otor, as well as its exiting of non-core business areas, such as its recent sell off of Spicers, giving shareholders a clear strategy for growth”.