US producer of nonwovens Polymer Group, Inc. has named Veronica Hagen as chief executive officer and a member of its board of directors, effective April 23.

Ms Hagen has over 25 years of operations and global industrial market experience with large, international public companies. Since 2004, she has held the position of president and chief executive officer of Sappi Fine Paper North America, a $1.4 billion division of the South African-based company involved in the pulp and paper industry, Sappi Limited.

Prior to working for Sappi, she served in various executive roles with aluminium producer Alcoa Inc., where she was the first woman to serve as a business unit president.

PGI operates 21 manufacturing and converting facilities throughout the world.