The longtime CEO of one of metro Atlanta’s biggest employers is stepping down this fall.

Georgia-Pacific announced this week Christian Fischer, who has led the paper and packaging giant since 2017 and had been a part of the company since 1989, will retire at the end of October.

The company is owned by Kansas-based Koch Inc., a multinational conglomerate with operations in energy, manufacturing and other sectors. Koch executive Mark Luetters will step in as interim CEO, the company said. He has previously served in an executive role with Georgia-Pacific.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with the GP team on our key initiatives, and ultimately naming a new, long-term GP president and CEO at some point within calendar year 2026,” Luetters said in a statement.

Georgia Pacific did not offer any additional detail to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution before publication.

The company currently employs more than 30,000 people, according to its website.

In addition to serving as CEO of Georgia Pacific, Fischer is a member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber Board of Directors. Fischer has also served on the Board of Councilors for The Carter Center.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the formal name of Koch Inc.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Kevin Blair, CEO of Pinnacle, on the top floor of the Ten Twenty Spring office tower at 1020 Spring St. NW on Friday, July 31, 2026, in Atlanta. Pinnacle will occupy 165,000 square feet of premier office space at Ten Twenty Spring and bring an estimated 400 team members to the building. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

Featured

Freelance writer Justin Brown speaks his opinion about the banana puddings to other participants during the “Best Banana Pudding” video shoot for the AJC in Atlanta, August 5, 2026.

Credit: Estela Muñoz/AJC