Thomas Plath, Vice Chair
Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Affairs International Paper
Board Position:
Vice Chair; Nominating & Governance Committee Chair
Board Committees:
Executive Committee; Nominating & Governance Committee
Board Member Since:
2018
Tom Plath joined International Paper in 1991 as a human resources associate at the Thilmany Mill in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. After working in a variety of business HR roles in the specialty industrial papers business, he was named director, human resources, International Paper Europe in 1997. In 2000, he was named director strategic planning, International Paper Europe.
Between 2001 and 2010, Plath served in the company's distribution business, xpedx, where he held roles in operations, marketing, and general management. He was named vice president of human resources for xpedx in 2006.
In September 2010, he was named director, human resources - manufacturing, for International Paper. He was appointed as an officer of the company in April 2013 and was named vice president, human resources - manufacturing, technology, EHS&S and global supply chain. From November 2014 until February 2017, Plath served as vice president, human resources, global businesses. He was elected senior vice president, human resources, and global citizenship on March 1, 2017.
Plath is a member of the executive committee of the board of directors for the Health Transformation Alliance, the board of directors for the HR Policy Association, the community advisory board for Baptist Hospital System, and the board of regents for Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee.
Plath received his bachelor's degree in education from Martin Luther College and his MBA from Vanderbilt University.