John V. Sims became chief executive officer on Jan. 1, 2026. His more than 30-year career in the paper and packaging industry spans two continents and multiple businesses with extensive experience in business management, operations, sales, supply chain, finance and strategic planning.
John became senior vice president and chief financial officer at the inception of Sylvamo as a spinoff of International Paper in 2021 and became senior vice president and chief operating officer in 2025.
In 1994, John entered the paper industry after serving as an officer in the United States Navy. During his 27-year career with International Paper, he gained extensive experience in the printing papers and packaging businesses in North America and Europe, serving in many senior leadership roles.
John serves on the boards of American Forest & Paper Association and Slingshot Memphis. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.