Mukherjee Takes Executive Helm at Finch Paper

GLENS FALLS, NY—Finch Paper has announced a transition in leadership. Joseph Raccuia has stepped down as president and CEO of the uncoated paper manufacturer effective May 24. He is succeeded by Debabrata Mukherjee, Ph.D., who has served as vice president and general manager of specialty papers for worldwide paper manufacturer P.H. Glatfelter since 2008.

“Nearly five years ago, I came out of retirement to transform this century-old paper company into a leading 21st century manufacturer, with high-performance work teams, strong union-management relations, improved efficiencies and a vibrant pipeline of next-generation products that would allow us to compete for the long-term in the global paper market,” Raccuia said. “Together, with an outstanding senior leadership team and the help of our employees and unions, I am proud to say Finch Paper is well on its way to achieving this transformation.”

Raccuia said Mukherjee’s expertise as a developer of specialty papers and a driver of innovation in the manufacturing environment make him well-suited to continue and expand upon the successes Finch Paper has achieved in recent years. Under Raccuia’s leadership, Finch has developed new products for the rapidly growing production inkjet printing market, and forged working relationships with academic institutions, including Cornell University, Clarkson University, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), of which Mukherjee is an alumnus.

Mukherjee has strong ties to the Capital Region. He earned both a doctorate and master of science in chemical engineering from RPI in Troy. He joins Finch after a 15-year career with paper manufacturer P.H. Glatfelter in York, PA, which in 2012 had $1.6 billion in sales.