The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce announced Walter Schalka as the Brazilian honoree of the 2023 Person of the Year Award.
For 51 years, the Chamber has honored two prominent leaders, one Brazilian and one American, as “Person of the Year” who have been particularly instrumental in forging closer ties and enhancing the relationship between Brazil and the United States. The American honoree will be announced soon.
Walter Schalka has served as CEO of Suzano since January 2013. He has played a strategic role in the evolution of Suzano, including the merger in 2019 of Suzano Pulp and Paper and Fibria Celulose, and has led the company’s success by developing new products and innovating ways to meet customer needs.
Mr. Schalka began his career at Citibank and later joined the holding company of the Maepar Group. In 1989, he took on the role of Chief Financial Officer at Dixie Lalekla, later becoming General Manager and, in 1991, CEO (after the merger that created the Dixie Toga Group). In May 2005, he joined the Votorantim Group as CEO of Votorantim Cimentos, where he was responsible for operations in Brazil and 14 other countries. In January 2013, he became CEO of Suzano.
Mr. Schalka holds a degree in Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) and has an MBA from Fundação Getúlio Vargas in São Paulo (FGV-SP). He also completed executive programs at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) (Switzerland) and Harvard University (USA).
Mr. Schalka was named by Fastmarkets RISI as “Latin American CEO of the Year – Pulp and Paper Industry” in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022. In 2018, he was recognized as one of the “15 Best CEOs in Brazil” by Forbes.
According to the Chamber, Mr. Schalka’s nomination as Person of the Year 2023 was widely proposed by Chamber members and unanimously approved by its Board of Directors. The Board comprises a broad spectrum of leading Brazilian and American companies active in both countries.
“The selection of Mr. Schalka by the Board recognizes the prominent and influential role he has played in the growth of Suzano as the world’s largest producer of hardwood pulp and a leader in the Latin American market. His commitment to ESG – particularly in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, and social development – is commendable and has brought measurable and lasting changes, factors that align with the values promoted by the Chamber,” the organization stated in a press release.
Mr. Schalka will be honored at the 2023 Person of the Year Award Gala, which will take place at The Glasshouse in New York City on Wednesday, May 10.