Mike Haws
March 12, 2026 - PaperAge is proud to announce that Mike Haws, President and CEO of Sappi North America, is the recipient of our 2026 "Executive Papermaker of the Year" award.
PaperAge selects its Executive Papermaker based on vision, strategic objectives and strong leadership both within the individual's company and in the paper industry as a whole. The award has been an industry tradition since 1988.
John O'Brien, managing editor of PaperAge, stated, "Under the leadership of Mike Haws, Sappi North America continues to successfully build its manufacturing platform through operational efficiency, environmental stewardship, and the creation of innovative, sustainable paper-based products, while driving the culture of employee safety as a top priority.
"Mike's dedication and enthusiasm exemplify the strength of his character and leadership at Sappi North America," O'Brien added.
Haws recently headed up Sappi's "Project Elevate", a $500 million conversion and expansion of Paper Machine No. 2 (PM2) at its Somerset Mill in Maine. The project began in 2022, with successful start-up of PM2 taking place in May 2025. PM2 now has the capacity to produce about 470,000 metric tons per year of high-performance SBS (solid bleached sulfate) paperboard.
The rebuild of PM2 was a remarkable feat of engineering, collaboration of Sappi employees, industry suppliers and contractors, and of course, Haws' leadership.
When discussing the success of the project, Haws deflects credit to the people he works with. "The true success of this project lies in our people," Haws said. "Their precision, focus, and unwavering commitment to safety enabled us to complete a complex transformation, all while keeping the mill fully operational."
Haws is also a driving force in building and maintaining the culture of safety throughout Sappi North America's workforce where 'everyone goes home safe.'
"Safety is our most important priority at Sappi," Haws explained. "It is clear that everyone on our SNA team personifies our motto, 'Safety starts with me,' and takes responsibility for themselves and everyone else working at our sites."
A feature article about Sappi North America with insight from Mr. Haws will be published in the upcoming Spring 2026 issue of PaperAge magazine.
With over 30 years of experience in the paper industry, Mike Haws joined Sappi in 2012 as Managing Director of the Somerset Mill. In October of 2015, he was promoted to Vice President Manufacturing with responsibility for the Somerset, Westbrook and Cloquet Mills, the Allentown sheeting facility, Safety, Research and Development and Customer Care. Prior to Sappi, he held a variety of operational roles with Verso Paper, International Paper and Champion International.
In October of 2019, Sappi appointed Haws as President and CEO of Sappi North America — the position he holds today.
Haws holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Paper Science and Engineering from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York.
SOURCE: PaperAge