Amcor Australasia and Amcor Packaging Distribution (formally Amcor Sunclipse) will be merged under an entity to be headed up by president Nigel Garrard, in what the company describes as a “strong signal to the market that there is an important role for distribution and manufacturing to work together worldwide to provide a unique value proposition”.

Garrard said: “This is an opportunity for the business in Australasia to bring the sales and marketing expertise of the Packaging Distribution business to this market.

“It comes at a time when we have committed over $700 million to major capital investments in Australasia, including a new paper mill in Sydney, major expansion of our glass business and a new beverage can line in New Zealand.”

The company recently announced that it had begun construction on its upgraded Botany plant, as well as purchasing US-based packaging company Wurzburg to bolster its overseas operations.

Eric Bloom, president of the packaging giant’s North American division, will relocate to Australia to serve under Garrard in the newly created position of senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Bloom has worked at the company for 15 years, and described the move as an “opportunity to build a world class organisation in the corrugated, specialty box and distribution operations”.

“With the new paper mill being commissioned in calendar year 2011, the business will be the low cost manufacturer and have a superior product offering,” he said.

“This means we will have a truly differentiated product in terms of value and performance and it will be my task to create a service culture that when combined with superior product performance, sets us apart from our competitors.”

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