Georgia-Pacific CEO Christian Fischer to retire in October after 35 years with the company

Georgia-Pacific announced that Christian Fischer, the company’s president and CEO, will retire at the end of October. The transition process will begin in August, marking the end of a decades-long career dedicated to the company and the forest products industry.

Fischer joined Georgia-Pacific in 1989 and held several leadership positions over the years. He has served as CEO since 2017, playing a key role in strategic and operational initiatives. With more than 40 years in the industry, Fischer is widely recognized for his contribution to Georgia-Pacific’s growth and its position as a major player in the market.

Following Fischer’s retirement, Mark Luetters, executive vice president at Koch Industries — Georgia-Pacific’s parent company — will step in as interim president and CEO. He will hold this position while continuing in his current role at Koch.

Luetters has an extensive history within the Koch organization, having joined the group in 1989. He became part of Georgia-Pacific in 2006 and led the building products division for nine years as executive vice president before returning to other Koch businesses in 2018.

“I want to thank Christian for his 40 years of service in the forest products industry and his 35 years of significant contribution to Georgia-Pacific. We all wish Christian the very best following his retirement”, said Luetters. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the GP team on our key initiatives, and ultimately naming a new, long-term GP president and CEO at some point within calendar year 2026”.

According to the company, the appointment of a permanent CEO is expected by the end of 2026. The transition reinforces Georgia-Pacific’s commitment to structured succession and long-term strategic continuity. The company remains focused on innovation, operational excellence, and developing internal talent throughout this leadership change.