In 1979 he joined Westvaco Corporation, a paper and packaging company originally founded by the Luke family in the late 19th century. Appointed as CEO and Chairman in 1992, he dedicated the remainder of his 40-year career to building the Company and its successors, MeadWestvaco and WestRock, now Smurfit Westrock. He was a principled leader who loved and cared deeply for the Company, its purpose, and most importantly, its people.
