EcoPlanet Bamboo signs three veteran Weyerhaeuser chief executives

EcoPlanet Bamboo Group has announced the hiring of Marvin Ray Risco, Dr Kent Wheiler and James Leitheiser – all from $8.5 billion (£4.9bn) timber giant Weyerhaeuser.

In a bid to ensure global development, the acquiring of three forest industry executives will encourage high levels of growth for the company, as it expands internationally – developing degraded land into bamboo plantations, sourcing a sustainable material increasingly used by multiple industries.

Marvin Ray Risco began his career in forestry as financial director for Weyerhaeuser Forestlands International, gradually rising to vice president of International Operations. He has also covered operations throughout Latin America, Europe and Asia, and has most recently become president of Weyerhaeuser Solutions.

Risco has already been named group president for the company. Troy Wiseman, CEO of EcoPlanet Bamboo, added, “Ray Risco brings a unique set of high level global experience and success.”

 “A wealth of financial, operational and managerial expertise and the know-how to develop those processes within large companies, which we can now effectively apply at EcoPlanet Bamboo.”

Also joining the new executive team is Dr Kent Wheiler, who has been with Weyerhaeuser for over 25 years. Wheiler is experienced in international plantation management and strategic planning and is joining EcoPlanet Bamboo as Chief Operating Officer.

James Leitheiser, another veteran of the industry, is bringing 27 years’ manufacturing and technical experience in forest products and allied industries, as well as 17 years within a variety of roles at International Paper. Leitheiser has also been director for Global Businesses Services at Weyerhaeuser and now joins EcoPlanet Bamboo as vice president for Commercial Technologies.

Commenting on his move, Risco said, “I have spent years developing certified sustainable, plantation based fibre to meet the ever-growing global demand for wood products.”

“Once I understood the depth of what EcoPlanet Bamboo has created, I realised that they have figured out what no other bamboo company has ever done before.”

EcoPlanet Bamboo currently operate commercial bamboo plantations in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, but intends to expand into other areas of the planet – a move its new executive team will be leading.

Photo source: Ioan Sameli via Flickr 

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