Management

Thomas Körmendi is the CEO and President of the Elopak Group. He joined Elopak in 2018. Körmendi has more than 30 years of extensive management and business development experience from several international companies. Prior to joining Elopak, Körmendi held the position as the CEO of Kezzler AS. Körmendi has also served as a member of the board of directors of One Nordic AB. He is currently member of the board of directors at Nordic Paper and Norican. In addition, he has held the position as CEO of the Relacom Group, Interim CEO of Cardo Flow Solutions, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Bulgaria, Turkey, Caucasus, and Hungary, and as the Vice President of Tetra Pak with responsibility for the North Europe region. Körmendi holds a Master of Science in Economics from Copenhagen Business School. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: One Nordic (board member), Kezzler A/S (CEO), and Körmendi & Co (Senior Business Advisor).

Bent K. Axelsen is the Group’s CFO. He joined the Group in 2019. Axelsen is an experienced executive with broad international experience across a range of professions ranging from finance to business development, marketing, product management and business operations. In addition to Norway, Axelsen has particular business experience from Asia, after living two years in Singapore and 4 years in Thailand. Prior to joining the Group, Axelsen spent more than 15 years in Yara International ASA where he held several managing positions including the position as CFO & SVP Global Business Excellence, SVP Marketing & Business Development, CFO Crop Nutrition and Vice President and Country Manager Thailand. In addition, Axelsen has held several positions in Norsk Hydro including the position as Business Development Manager in Hydro Agri and analyst in the Corporate Strategy Team. Axelsen holds a Master’s degree in Economics from BI Norwegian Business School. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Yara International ASA (CFO & SVP Global Business Excellence and SVP Marketing & Business Development respectively).

Nete Bechmann is the Group’s Chief Human Resources Officer. She joined the Group in 2020. Bechmann has more than 30 years’ experience within human resources, leadership and finance. Prior to joining the Group, Bechmann held the position as executive HR business partner in Vestas Wind Systems AS, she has also held several HR positions within Arla Foods. Nete Bechmann has a Graduate Diploma in Accounting. Current directorships and senior management positions: Aarhus Katedral Gymnasium (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Business Aarhus/International Community (member of executive committee), Vestas Wind Systems A/S (executive HR business partner).

Dag Grönevik is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Equipment & Service. Grönevik has held the position since March 2022. Grönevik has an educational background as Mechanical Engineer and has more than 30 years of experience from several senior leadership roles within Service and Operations, based in different parts of the world such as Russia, China, Southeast Asia, Oceania and Europe. Prior to joining the group, Grönevik was Managing Director for Service Leaders Matters, a global recruiting firm for senior service leaders. In addition, Grönevik has experience from leading the global service business at Sidel International AG and from various roles in Tetra Pak, latest as Head of Services in Region South and Southeast Asia, Global Director of Operations in Sweden, and Region EMEA head of Services in Switzerland. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Service Leaders Matters (managing director)

Thea Corwin Bristøl is the Group’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. She joined the Group in 2023. Bristøl has broad experience across professions ranging from strategy, business development and strategic marketing and communications. Throughout her career, she has worked for large international companies with well-renowned brands within the following industries: shipping and maritime, IT and digitalization, as well as packaging. Prior to joining the Group, Thea Corwin Bristøl spent a decade in Wilhelmsen Group holding several positions. She has also worked in EVRY as a chief consultant within strategy, digitalization and change management, before leading the establishment of the Tietoevry brand. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business with focus on International Marketing from University of Technology, Sydney in Australia and a Master’s degree in International Political Economy from Warwick University in the UK. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Elopak ASA (Director of Brand, Marketing and Communications), Tietoevry (Chief Marketing Officer) and EVRY (Head of Change Communications and Strategic Initiatives).

Ivar Jevne is the Group’s Executive Vice President P&P (Packaging and Procurement). He first joined the Group in 2005 as the Group Purchasing Director/Chief Purchasing Officer, and was promoted to the Groups’ Executive Vice President P&P (previously called Material and Product Supply and Procurement) in 2013. Prior to joining the Group, Jevne held the position as Principal at A.T. Kearney. Jevne holds a Master of Science from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Ivan Ferrini is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Packaging and Procurement. He joined the Group in 2024. Ferrini has extensive experience in the operations of international large scale corporations, specializing in Supply Chain strategy, performance turnaround and operational excellence. Prior to joining the Group, Ferrini held the position as Head of Global Operations at multinational lighting organization Signify, where he was responsible for supply chain and manufacturing across Europe, America, Asia and Australia. Ferrini has also served as Director of Operations and Operational Excellence at Essity, a Swedish hygiene and health company. In addition, he has held several managing positions including the position as Engagement Manager in the Operations practice at McKinsey & Company, and Operations Manager at Procter & Gamble. Ferrini holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florence. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Signify (Head of Global Operations), Essity Italy SpA (board member), Cartografica Galeotti SpA (board member).

Dr. Uwe Schulze is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Product and Development and Chief Technology Officer. He joined the Group in 2024. Schulze is a seasoned strategist with more than 25 years’ experience in roles ranging from technical service to R&D, business development and innovation management. He is highly skilled in developing innovative and sustainable products both in the speciality chemicals and paper industry. Prior to joining the Group, Schulze served as Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at Felix Schoeller Group. In addition, he has held several managing positions in Synthomer plc including the position as Director for Transformation, Innovation Director for Functional Solutions, Director for Research and Development, and Senior Manager for Technical Service and Marketing. Schulze holds a PhD in Chemistry with focus on Polymer Sciences from the University of Bayreuth in Germany. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Felix Schoeller Group (Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation), Synthomer plc (Director for Transformation and Innovation Director for Functional Solutions respectively)

Stephen Naumann is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Region Europe North and CIS. He has been a member of Elopak Group Leadership Team since 2007. Naumann has nearly 30 years of experience within Elopak, starting as Sales and Marketing Manager in 1992. He took several steps during the following years with the first milestone as General Manager of Elopak GmbH Germany in 1997. Followed by taking the additional responsibility for the NL and UK markets. In 2005 he became VP Northern Europe and Global Accounts. In 2007 Naumann joined the GLT as an EVP Europe North and West. In 2015 he became Executive VP Region Europe & Mediterranean & Rollfed and has since 2019 been the EVP for Europe North and CIS. Naumann holds a degree as Wirtschaftsassistent Industrie, comparable to a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Current directorships and senior management positions: FKN e.V. (board member delegated by Elopak GmbH).

Lionel Ettedgui is the Group’s Executive Vice President for the North America region. Ettedgui has been appointed EVP Region America since September 2019. He has more 20 years’ experience in the operations of international large-scale corporations. Prior to joining the Group, Ettedgui was the President and CEO of Colabor Group. In addition, Ettedgui served more than 6 years as President and Chief operating officer of Saputo Bakery division until it was sold to Grupo Bimbo in 2015. In 2005, he founded Kooll Desserts, a state-of-the-art dairy plant with products listed at all retailers in Canada, the Company was sold to Liberté (Yoplait Group) in 2008. In addition, Ettedgui has held various executive positions in Europe and Africa within trade, operations management and business development. Ettedgui has also served on the board of directors of several companies including 7 years at Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital Foundation and 7 years at CTAQ (Quebec Food processing council). Ettedgui holds a degree in Business from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion. Current directorships and senior management positions: Elopak Canada (board member), Elopak Inc. (board member), Envases (board member) and IY (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Mito Sushi (member of advisory board), 123KLAN (member of advisory board), Fondation Hopital Sacre Coeur (board member) and Groupe Colabor (president and CEO).

Finn M. Tørjesen is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Region Europe South and New Markets. Tørjesen has held the position as EVP since May 2019 and has been with the Group since 2000. Tørjesen has been an international marketing and sales executive for more than 25 years. Tørjesen holds a Master of Business from the University of Strathclyde and a Bachelor W Honours from Oslo Business School. Current directorships and senior management positions: Elopak Spa Italy (chairman), Elopak Nampak JV (board member) and The Norwegian Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Madrid (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Elopak Obeikan JV (board member).