Specialist executive search for the global paper industry.

Payen Search is a specialist executive search and talent advisory firm dedicated exclusively to the global paper, packaging, and recycling industry. Pulp and paper is all we do. Our deep understanding of the science, commercial dynamics, and operational challenges that define this sector gives us unmatched insight into the leadership each area of the industry requires.

We work with mill operators, converters, packaging manufacturers, recycling and sustainability leaders, and the service businesses that support them. From C-suite and group operations through to mill directors, plant managers, commercial leaders, and technical specialists, we place the people who steer entire organisations and drive transformation across the fibre economy.

Our clients are the companies that shape the sector's future, from multinational producers to ambitious independents. Our candidates are the executives, engineers, and commercial leaders who understand fibre science, process chemistry, and high-speed manufacturing at scale. Whether you need a single transformative hire or a full-scale recruitment partnership, we build tailored solutions around focus, industry knowledge, and trust.

Payen Search is built by a team with nearly three decades of executive search and talent partner expertise. We combine a genuinely specialist focus with a global reach, helping paper industry businesses discover and connect with the exceptional leaders who will define the sector's next chapter.