CREVE COEUR, Mo. and CHICAGO, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation today announced the appointment of Timothy T. Griffith as vice president and treasurer.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070129/SMURFIT-STONELOGO)

"Tim's extensive treasury, finance and financial risk management experience will be a valued asset as we work to accomplish our long-term financial goals," said John Murphy, senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Prior to joining Smurfit-Stone, Griffith served as vice president and treasurer of Cooper-Standard Automotive in Novi, MI, and previously served in a variety of financial leadership roles for Lear Corporation, Citicorp Securities Inc., and Comerica Incorporated.

Griffith will be responsible for managing Smurfit-Stone's treasury function, including liquidity and cash management, capital raising and structure, investor relations, risk management, investment oversight, and corporate credit processes.

Smurfit-Stone also announces the promotion of Brian Gardner to assistant treasurer, a role he assumed August 1.

Gardner is responsible for capital issuance and monitoring Smurfit-Stone's debt compliance, as well as weekly and monthly debt reporting obligations. He will also oversee Smurfit-Stone's cash investment and monitor all of the company's defined benefit and defined contribution plan investment managers.

Gardner joined Smurfit-Stone in 1998 as a treasury analyst and has since held roles of increasing responsibility, including senior treasury analyst, manager of financial operations and, most recently, director of corporate finance. His background includes both credit and treasury analyst positions for Commerce Bank, Magna Bank and Bunge Corporation.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is one of the industry's leading integrated containerboard and corrugated packaging producers, and one of the world's largest paper recyclers. The company is a member of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative(R) and the Chicago Climate Exchange. Smurfit-Stone generated revenue of $7.04 billion in 2008; has led the industry in safety every year since 2001; and conducts its business in compliance with the environmental, health, and safety principles of the American Forest & Paper Association.

www.smurfit-stone.com

SOURCE Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation