Apr 11, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Georgia-Pacific LLC announced on April 11 the promotions of Kathleen A. Walters, previously group president - U.S. retail tissue and international consumer products; and Christian Fischer, previously group president - packaging, to expanded leadership roles as executive vice presidents. Ms. Walters, executive vice president - global consumer products, now has responsibility for the company's consumer products businesses worldwide, as well as the Dixie(R) and communication papers businesses. Ms. Walters assumes numerous business leadership responsibilities previously held by Michael C. Burandt, executive vice president - North American consumer products. Burandt has decided to retire effective May 1, to build a family business. Since joining Georgia-Pacific in 1988, Burandt has assumed roles of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing, general management and business leadership for the company's North American consumer products businesses. Mr. Fischer, executive vice president - packaging, now has responsibility for Georgia-Pacific's containerboard, packaging, kraft, bleached board and cellulose businesses. Mr. Fischer assumes responsibility for the bleached board business previously part of Burandt's responsibility. Prior to joining Georgia-Pacific as president of the North American commercial business in 2004, Ms. Walters served as president and CEO of Sappi Fine Paper North America, president of the away-from-home business in Europe for Kimberly-Clark, vice president of Kimberly-Clark's North American away-from- home business, and a variety of leadership positions at Scott Paper Company. Mr. Fischer, who joined Georgia-Pacific in 1989, has held positions of increasing responsibility, including European sales manager of market pulp, director of market pulp sales for North and South America, director of global market pulp sales, senior director of containerboard sales, senior vice president of packaging sales and logistics, and group president of packaging. Joseph Moeller, chairman and CEO, said, "Mike has had a very distinguished career with our company for the past 19 years, and he has been a tremendous asset to me, the entire leadership team and our board of directors during the past 15 months of new ownership. It has been an honor and privilege to work with him. He leaves us with a strong and talented leadership team that is committed to effectively achieving results." "Kathy and Christian bring a wealth of industry experience and tremendous leadership skills to their expanded roles for the company," he added. "I couldn't be more pleased to have such capable leaders for these key Georgia- Pacific businesses as we continue to serve customers and grow our business." Headquartered at Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of building products, tissue, packaging, paper, cellulose and related chemicals. The company employs approximately 50 000 people at more than 300 locations in North America, South America and Europe.