St. Petersburg, January 28, 2012. - Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO and International Paper have signed a Memorandum of understanding on intention of IP to make a donation to SKOLKOVO Endowment Fund. The goal of donation is to finance joint partnership projects. By doing that IP became the first manufacturing company to offer such programme to SKOLKOVO business-school.

The signing of the MOU will allow SKOLKOVO business-school and IP to begin working on a joint programme on mutual cooperation. Among the joint activities the programme will include open lectures of IP Top Management, series of master classes on IP way of talent development and events supporting IP sustainability initiatives. In addition to that IP Leaders will offer mentorship to MBA students. As a part of this mentorship IP will host SKOLKOVO students to work on IP business cases.

John Faraci, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer International Paper:
“Russia offers exciting and dynamic business opportunities, and we’re pleased to strengthen our long standing partnership with the SKOLKOVO Business School. Together, we’ve developed a strong academic programme that will help attract the best and brightest local talent to our organizations.”

“We are happy to have International Paper as our partner, as it allows our school to use the experience of IP in all our education programmes and in our students’ projects. I have no doubts, that the topic of sustainable development, being one of the company’s priorities, deserves our closest attention and support.”, - said the President of Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO Andrey Rappoport. 

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global paper and packaging company with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include uncoated papers and industrial and consumer packaging, complemented by xpedx, the company's North American distribution company. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs about 59,500 people in more than 24 countries and serves customers worldwide. 2010 net sales were more than $25 billion. For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit www.internationalpaper.com. In Europe, Middle East, Africa & Russia (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of office papers and paper-based packaging. The company is a leading supplier of high-quality cutsize papers, coated and uncoated paperboard board and corrugated containers for a wide range of applications. International Paper in EMEA had net sales of $2.8 billion in 2010 and employs approximately 9,100 people.

Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO is a joint project of Russian and international business representatives, who joined their efforts to create a business new-generation school from scratch. Focusing on practical knowledge, the Moscow School of Management dedicates itself to training leaders, who intend to implement their professional knowledge in the conditions of rapidly developing markets. SKOLKOVO is defined by: leadership and business undertakings, rapidly developing markets focus, innovative approach towards educational methods. The Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO project is fulfilled by the governmental-private partnership within the framework of the Education Foreground National Project. The project is financed by private investors, and doesn’t use governmental budget recourses. The President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is Chairman of the SKOLKOVO International Advisory Board. Since 2006 SKOLKOVO conducts short educational Executive Education programmes for top and medium-level managers – open programmes and specialized, integrated modules based on the companies requests. SKOLKOVO launched Executive МВА programme in January 2009, first class of the international Full-time MBA programme – in September 2009.