Jean-Michel Ribiéras
LOUISIANA-PACIFICAbout Jean-Michel Ribiéras
Jean‑Michel Ribiéras, 62, was appointed to LP’s Board on February 6, 2025 and serves as an independent Class II director with his current term expiring at the 2026 annual meeting . He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sylvamo Corporation and brings 30+ years of paper and packaging operating experience; he holds a B.S. in Business Management (École Supérieure des Dirigeants d’Entreprise, France) and an MBA in Marketing (University of Hartford) . At LP, he is a member of the Finance & Audit Committee and the Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Paper Company | SVP – Industrial Packaging of the Americas | Jun 2018–Mar 2021 | Led large packaging operations across the Americas |
| International Paper Company | SVP – Global Cellulose Fibers | Jul 2016–Jun 2018 | Led integration of Weyerhaeuser’s cellulose fibers business with IP’s pulp business (major integration execution) |
| International Paper Company | SVP & President, EMEA & Russia | 2013–Jun 2016 | Ran multi‑country operations; global leadership |
| International Paper Company | VP & President, Latin America | 2009–2013 | Regional P&L leadership |
| International Paper Company | VP, European Papers | 2002–2004 | Business unit leadership in Europe |
| International Paper Company | VP, Pulp & Converting Papers | 2005–2009 | Operational leadership across pulp/converting papers |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE: SLVM) | Chairman & CEO; Director | Director since Mar 2021; CEO since Oct 2021 | Overall corporate strategy and execution |
| U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum | Member (appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce) | 2024–2026 term | Bilateral business policy engagement |
Board Governance
- Independence: LP’s Board determined all current directors other than the CEO are independent under NYSE and LP guidelines; Ribiéras is listed as an independent director .
- Committee assignments: Finance & Audit Committee member; Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee member .
- Board effectiveness: Executive sessions occur each quarterly meeting; majority‑voting for uncontested elections; overboarding limits; retirement age policy (75, waiverable) .
- Leadership: Chairperson & CEO roles are combined at LP; Dustan E. McCoy serves as Lead Independent Director with defined responsibilities .
| Committee | 2024 Meetings | Ribiéras Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Audit | 6 | Member |
| Compensation | 4 | — |
| Governance & Corporate Responsibility | 4 | Member |
| Executive | 0 | — |
Attendance/engagement: In 2024, each then‑current director attended ≥75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting (Ribiéras joined in 2025) . Executive sessions are scheduled for each quarterly Board meeting .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non‑employee directors) | $100,000 | Paid quarterly; increased from $90,000 pre‑May 10, 2024 |
| Committee chair retainers (Audit/Comp/Gov) | $20,000 / $20,000 / $15,000 | Applies to chairs only |
| Lead Independent Director retainer | $30,000 | Reflects broader duties |
| Cash deferral/DSU election | Available | DSUs or cash account per Non‑Employee Directors Compensation Plan; payout at separation/change of control/specified date |
Director stock ownership guidelines: Outside directors must hold shares equal to 5× the annual cash retainer within five years; compliance measured annually (as of 12/31/2024, all directors met guidelines; Ribiéras joined in 2025 and will be measured going forward) .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Grant | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting & Settlement | Deferral/Dividend Equivalents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSUs (non‑employee directors) | $140,000 (effective May 10, 2024) | Generally vest in full on earliest of 1 year, death, disability, retirement (per award), or change of control; forfeiture if service ends otherwise; settled in LP stock | Directors may defer RSU settlement into DSUs; DSUs earn dividend equivalents credited as additional DSUs; DSUs distribute at separation, change of control, or specified date |
Anti‑hedging/anti‑pledging: Directors are prohibited from short sales, options, collars, swaps, and pledging LP securities as collateral, reinforcing alignment with shareholders .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Interlock/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) | Chairman & CEO; Director | Interlock with LP director Lizanne C. Gottung, who serves on Sylvamo’s Board and chairs its compensation committee . No related‑party transactions disclosed by LP in 2024 . |
Potential conflict assessment: While dual LP–Sylvamo board presence (Ribiéras/Gottung) creates a network interlock, LP’s Related Party Transactions Policy and Audit Committee oversight reported no related‑party transactions requiring disclosure in 2024 .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Public company board experience; C‑suite leadership; global operations; manufacturing/distribution; sales/marketing; HR/labor relations; strategic planning .
- Executed complex integrations (Weyerhaeuser cellulose fibers into IP’s pulp business) indicating M&A and post‑merger integration capability .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Beneficial Ownership (as of Mar 10, 2025) | % Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean‑Michel Ribiéras | 0 shares | — | New director; subject to 5× retainer ownership guideline within five years |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | — | Policy reduces alignment risks |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director; Audit and Governance committee work aligns with operational risk oversight, cybersecurity program oversight, ESG/sustainability oversight and board effectiveness processes . Majority‑independent Board with robust policies (executive sessions, majority voting, ownership guidelines, anti‑hedging/pledging) supports investor confidence .
- Alignment: Director compensation balanced between cash retainer and time‑vested RSUs; optional DSU deferral promotes long‑term alignment; no meeting fees; clear vesting/change‑of‑control terms .
- Watch items: LP–Sylvamo board interlock (Ribiéras/Gottung); monitor for any LP–Sylvamo transactions and recusal protocols; currently no related‑party transactions disclosed in 2024 .
- Shareholder sentiment: 2025 say‑on‑pay received 58,545,051 votes “FOR” (vs. 1,575,056 “AGAINST”; 133,233 abstentions; 3,881,678 broker non‑votes), consistent with prior high approval levels, indicating positive governance and pay alignment backdrop .
Overall, Ribiéras adds deep multi‑region operating expertise and integration experience to LP’s board. Independence, committee oversight roles, and LP’s strong governance policies offset interlock risk; beneficial ownership is currently zero with clear ownership guideline requirements applicable going forward .