Norman Davenport, managing director of UPM-Kymmenes UK sales division, has announced his retirement, after a career spanning 43 years in the paper industry.

"He is a man of huge experience, with a great deal of respect for him both here in the UK and Europe. He will be sorely missed," said UPM-Kymmene divisional director fine paper division, Richard Bennett.

Davenport, who is 59, started his paper industry career at a family-owned firm in 1958. In 1963 he joined Lamco, becoming technical service manager in 1966.

In 1989 he left the company to join Kymmene as managing director, before returning to the fold in 1996 as a result of the merger between UPM and Kymmene.

In 1998 he was named as managing director of UPM-Kymmenes UK sales division, based in London.

Story by Andy Scott