RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Fort James Corporation (NYSE: FJ)
announced today that B. Gregory Stroh, 49,  has been named president of the
company's Packaging Business effective immediately, replacing Gordon B.
Bonfield, III, who resigned from the company to pursue other interests.
    Mr. Stroh was most recently president and chief executive officer of
Custom Industries, a food ingredient company headquartered in St. Louis, Mo.
Prior to his position with Custom Industries, Mr. Stroh held a number of
increasingly responsible operating management positions with Kraft, Inc. for
over 22 years and with Pet Inc. for four years.
    From 1989 to 1991 at Kraft Inc., Mr. Stroh was vice president and director
of commercial operations and business development where he was responsible for
creating a new manufacturing organization to supply Kraft's commercial
business, as well as leading a number of new  business initiatives.  From 1992
to 1995 at Pet  Inc., he was executive vice president, operations and
technology  where he led Pet's efficient consumer response efforts, market
research, research and development and cost reduction efforts.
    Mr. Stroh graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor's of
Science degree in 1970 and from Harvard University's Advanced Management
Program in 1984.
    "Greg has a broad base of managerial experience in consumer products and
particularly in the packaged convenience foods industry," said Michael T.
Riordan, president and chief operating officer of Fort James.  "This focus
plus his experience in managing manufacturing operations make Greg uniquely
qualified to lead the Packaging Business."
    "I am very pleased to be joining Fort James' Packaging Business and am
excited about the opportunities for growth" said Mr. Stroh.  " It is also
exciting to be joining Fort James so soon after the launch of this new
company.  The company's strengths and national presence will provide a solid
base for the future development of the Packaging Business."
    Mr. Bonfield, who joined James River Corporation in 1988, was named vice
president for the Carton Group in 1992 and was appointed to the presidency of
the Packaging Business in 1996.
    In 1996, James River sold its flexible packaging and CZ Inks divisions to
focus exclusively on the manufacturer of folding cartons and paperboard.
"This resulted in a stronger more profitable packaging business which will be
an important part of Fort James' portfolio of businesses going forward ...
and, the company is grateful for Gordon's leadership," Mr. Riordan said.
    The company also announced that the management and support staff of the
Packaging Business will move from its current location in Milford, Ohio, and
be consolidated at the company's new executive headquarters in Deerfield, IL,
which is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in late
January 1998.  The graphics technology, structural design and product
development support functions of the Packaging Business also will move from
Milford to Neenah, Wis.  Approximately 55 positions will move to Deerfield and
approximately 25 to Neenah.  The company will maintain a sales office in the
Cincinnati area with approximately 15 positions.
    "These relocations are part of the company's ongoing efforts to reduce
administrative costs and increase business effectiveness," said Mr. Riordan.
"This move will also increase interaction between the Packaging Business and
other Fort James businesses while still permitting the Packaging Business to
remain geographically well suited to serve our major food and pharmaceutical
customers."
    Fort James is a leading international consumer products company, serving
consumers both at home and away-from-home with bathroom and facial tissue,
paper towels, napkins, and cups and plates.  The company's popular brands
include Quilted Northern, Brawny, Dixie, Vanity Fair, Mardi Gras, Green
Forest, Soft `N Gentle and So-Dri in North America and Lotus, Tenderly,
Colhogar and Kittensoft in Europe.  Fort James also produces folding cartons
for packaging food and pharmaceuticals and communications papers such as
printing, publishing and office copy paper.  The company has approximately
30,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada
and 12 European countries.

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