Duane Hicks
Harrison
switching
positions
There will be a new manager at the local AbitibiBowater paper mill in the near future after general manager John Harrison last week took a position elsewhere in the company.
Jean-Philippe Cote, director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for AbitibiBowater, said Harrison announced internally at the mill Thursday that he’s accepted “new challenges within the organization.”
“We will announce in a few weeks who will be the new general manager. No names to share now,” he added.
“We’re happy that John agreed to this new challenge within the organization. But again, the details will come more when we’re able to announce who will be the new general manager,” noted Cote.
He couldn’t say where Harrison will be or what his new challenge will be, just that it will be “within the organization, not necessarily within the [local] mill.”
Cote noted Harrison currently is helping the local mill management team with the transition between general managers, but no longer is working formally at the mill.
“What’s important, of course, for us is to make sure the mill continues to run, and that it’s all under control,” he stressed.
“You can be sure it doesn’t affect the operation of the mill. Management has a strong hand on running it, and John is playing a transition role, so I say it’s all good news,” Cote added later.
Harrison, who began his career at the mill here in 1980 and held several positions, including assistant general manager, became general manager in January, 2003, replacing Jim Gartshore, who had moved to Montreal.
Just prior to then, Harrison had been general manager at Abitibi’s mill in Thunder Bay.
