<B>Smurfit-Stone Names COO</B>

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation announced that Jay J. Gurandiano, president CEO of St. Laurent Paperboard Inc., will join Smurfit-Stone as chief operating officer following Smurfit-Stone’s acquisition of St. Laurent Paperboard. In the new post, Gurandiano’s primary responsibility will be to oversee Smurfit-Stone’s folding carton and boxboard, specialty packaging and bag packaging divisions and the specialty packaging operations of St. Laurent Paperboard. In addition, he will also be responsible for managing the development and marketing of mini-flute, protective packaging and Internet-based marketing.