Burrows Paper Chairman, CEO Bill Burrows Dies

Burrows Paper Corp., Little Falls, N.Y., USA, this week announced the passing of Chairman and CEO R. W. (Bill) Burrows, who died on August 20, at the age of 64. Bill served Burrows Paper Corp. for more than 40 years. To ensure its strength and continuity, he had implemented a strategic plan that charts a growth trajectory through the company's centennial in 2019 and beyond, and ensures strong management succession including the promotion of Rose Mihaly to president and COO. Company ownership will pass to his family, and governance will be in the hands of the board of directors comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds in corporate finance and management. Operation of the company will continue under Mihaly, Philip Paras (CFO), and senior management around the globe.

 

Bill became president of Burrows Paper Corp. two years after joining the company in 1974. He was elected president and CEO in March 1986 and succeeded to chairman of the board later that year, following his father's death. Bill was well known as an entrepreneur who had the foresight to make strategic investments. Under his direction, the company made business growth investments a priority, while focusing with equal fervor on improving the organization's structure and preserving the unique Burrows culture. 

 

In 1984, investments were made in hydroelectric projects in Little Falls and Lyons Falls N.Y. The company's product line expanded into specialty packaging through acquisitions in 1986 and 1993. In 1991, packaging expanded into Europe with the groundbreaking of a manufacturing facility in the Netherlands.

 

In 2012, packaging further expanded with the acquisition of a packaging plant in China, of which Burrows Paper Corp. had been a minority partner since 2008. Between 2007 and 2014, the company invested more than $30 million in its paper mills.

 

Memorial services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made in Bill's honor to Herkimer County Hospice & Palliative Care  Inc. at 4277 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford N.Y. 13413, or online. Arrangements are under the direction of Chapman-Moser Funeral Home , Little Falls, N.Y.

Burrows Paper Corp. operates four paper mills and five packaging converting facilities domestically and abroad. The company incorporates nearly 100 years of papermaking experience into its food packaging line of products and is one of only a few companies capable of producing light weight printable tissue paper from 7.5 to 30 lb. (12.2 to 48.9 gsm). Burrows offers machine glaze and machine finish paper grades for a variety of uses from medical and food packaging to industrial applications.