Jun 05, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. At AbitibiBowater Inc.'s first annual meeting of stockholders, John W. Weaver announced his retirement as Executive Chairman of the Company, effective July 1, 2008. Mr. Weaver will continue to serve as non-Executive Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of AbitibiBowater until March 31, 2009. "Leaving AbitibiBowater at this stage of my life is the right thing to do," stated Mr. Weaver. "I am very proud of how far we have come as a combined company in such a short period of time. Many challenges lie ahead and I am confident that the right people are in place to successfully meet them head on." AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. The Company owns or operates 27 pulp and paper facilities and 34 wood products facilities located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea.