Five Star Holding Appoints Alex Huis In 't Veld As CEO To Spearhead Sustainable Initiatives

Five Star Holding, a prominent player in the sustainable packaging industry, has recently undergone a significant leadership change. Michael S. Ukropina, who has been at the helm as CEO, announced his retirement, with Alex Huis in ‘t Veld set to take over the role effective May 3, 2024. Huis in ‘t Veld, who previously held the position of President at Five Star, brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as COO of Polytex and StarPak, coupled with over a decade of steering Polytex's growth trajectory.

Alex expressed his enthusiasm about the future of Five Star, highlighting the company's commitment to sustainability, its leadership in the pet food sector, and the exceptional quality of its team as key differentiators in the market. He also acknowledged Ukropina's mentorship and expressed eagerness to continue the company's legacy of growth and innovation. On the other hand, Ukropina reflected on his gratifying six-year tenure as CEO, emphasizing the team's efforts to manage growth amidst challenges such as COVID-19 and stiff competition.

Ukropina's career spans 30 years, starting at International Paper and including a significant stint as CEO for the AGI-Shorewood packaging business before joining Five Star in 2018. He will remain involved with Five Star as a consultant. Before his time at Five Star, Alex Huis in ‘t Veld held several senior roles at DSM, a global health and nutrition company, including a divisional Chief Financial Officer position.

Located in Houston, Texas, Five Star is a circularly-integrated conglomerate known for its industry-leading flexible packaging solutions. The group boasts multiple facilities specializing in extrusion, printing, and converting operations catering to Fortune 500 consumer packaged goods companies and large national retailers. Its business entities include:

• StarPak: Offers advanced printing and extrusion capabilities for technical films, bags, and pouches for CPG and industrial products companies.
• Polytex: Specializes in innovative laminated woven sacks, quad-seal bags, pouches, and structures for various consumer markets, including pet foods and treats.
• Superbag: A leading manufacturer and converter of environmentally focused high-PCR content retail carry-out bags, e-commerce mailers, and extruded films.
• Fresh Pak: Focuses on complex post-consumer resin applications through its state-of-the-art recycling operation and manufactures extruded products from recycled resins.

The transition in leadership marks a new chapter for Five Star Holding as it continues to lead in sustainable packaging solutions. With Alex Huis in ‘t Veld at the helm, the company is poised for further innovation and growth in its commitment to sustainability and excellence in the packaging industry.