Finch Paper LLC in Glens Falls is undergoing
a transition in leadership, with
Joseph F. Raccuia stepping down as president
and CEO, succeeded by Debabrata
Mukherjee, Ph.D., who has served as vice
president and general manager of specialty
papers for worldwide paper manufacturer
P.H. Glatfelter since 2008.
Mukherjee’s expertise as a developer of
specialty papers and a driver of innovation
in the manufacturing environment make
him well-suited to continue the successes
Finch Paper has achieved in recent years,
company officials said.
Under Raccuia’s leadership, Finch successfully developed products for the production inkjet printing market, and established relationships with academic institutions to foster innovation, including: Cornell University, Clarkson University, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry and RPI in Troy, where Mukherjee earned both a doctorate and master of science in chemical engineering.
Andrew M. Bursky, chairman of Atlas Holdings LLC, which co-owns Finch Paper with Blue Wolf Capital Management LLC, said, “Joe Raccuia assumed the leadership of Finch Paper at a pivotal time, bringing energy, innovation and excitement to the Finch brand. He streamlined the operation, built an excellent management team, launched new products, and positioned the company for growth.”
“We are fortunate to have attracted Deba Mukherjee, a transformational business leader and architect of innovative specialty paper products whose multidisciplinary strengths are ideally suited to take Finch Paper to the next level of sustainable success,” he added. “Deba will help continue the momentum that Joe Raccuia created.”
“I am honored and excited by the opportunity to lead Finch Paper,” Mukherjee said. “As a senior executive at Glatfelter, I have known Finch as a formidable innovator with an outstanding reputation for quality products and unrivaled customer responsiveness. Now I look forward to leading this team and building upon its record of success, particularly in the areas of digital and specialty papers.
“Adding to my excitement is the opportunity to return to a region where I once lived and studied and where I set in motion the chain of events that led me to my chosen career.”
Mukherjee joins Finch after a 15-year career with paper manufacturer P.H. Glatfelter in York, Pa., in which he earned a steady series of promotions including specialty products manager in 2000; North American general sales manager, engineered products in 2002; director, engineered products in 2004; division vice president, engineered and converting products in 2006; and vice president and general manager, specialty papers in 2008.
In his most recent role, Mukherjee led a business unit with more than $900 million in worldwide sales and six North American locations.
Mukherjee’s expertise in chemical engineering has made him a globally recognized leader in new product innovation, according to Finch officials.
He jointly holds three patents related to inkjet printing technologies and has been widely published in a number of scientific publications.
Before earning master’s and doctorate degrees from RPI, Mukherjee earned a bachelor of technology in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur, India. He also holds an MBA from York College of Pennsylvania, School of Business. Raccuia, a long-time resident of Saratoga County, joined Finch Paper in February 2009, after retiring as president and CEO of SCA Tissue-North America, the $1-billion manufacturer of 100 percent recycled napkin, towel and tissue products.
During his four†plus years as president and CEO, he led a comprehensive program of organizational change that has enhanced Finch’s competitiveness and market share. He initiated new go†to†market†strategies; fostered new product development, particularly in the growing area of digital print media; successfully championed collaborative efforts with the company’s seven union locals to build high†performance work systems and implement the company’s first pay†for†skill compensation model.
He led a company-wide continuous improvement process that has achieved significant improvements in operational efficiencies, energy conservation, reduced raw material consumption and waste reduction.
“To have accomplished so much in such a short period of time is extremely gratifying,” Raccuia said. “I look forward to watching the next steps in this proud company’s evolution, and to having the opportunity to pursue some professional opportunities I put on hold four-†plus years ago.”
Finch Paper manufactures more than 255,000 tons per year of uncoated printing papers for corporate marketing materials, direct mail, book publishing, transactional documents and business office use. The company is recognized for the quality of its papers, its industry-leading customer service, and its commitment to sustainable forestry.
The company’s forestry division, Finch Forest Management, employs a team of five professional foresters who help lan owners large and small achieve sustainable forestry goals including improved forest health, enhanced recreational opportunities, thirdâ€party certification and reduced ownership costs.
For more information, visit www.finchpaper.com and www.finchforestmanagement.com