Amcor to combine operations

MELBOURNE - Paper maker and packager Amcor will combine all its Australasian operations with its US-based packaging distribution unit into one Melbourne-based division from 2010/11.

Amcor said the Australian and New Zealand units would be brought together with Amcor Packaging Distribution and led from Melbourne by Nigel Garrard, in a new role as president of Amcor Australasia and Packaging Distribution.

Garrard said the integration would bring the sales and marketing expertise of the US operation into the Australasian market. The move came as Amcor is spending A$700 million on major plant and capital investments.

Garrard currently runs the Australasian units, and will now have president of Amcor Packaging Distribution, Eric Bloom, reporting to him in a new role as senior vice-president of sales and marketing for Australasia.

Mr Bloom will move from Los Angeles to Melbourne to take up his new role, Amcor said in a statement.

Amcor will report its full year 2009/10 result on August 26.

- AAP