Bemis Company Announces Management Changes, Election of New Officers.

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2002

Bemis Company, Inc. (NYSE:BMS) announced that effective at today's Board of Director's meeting, John H. Roe, formerly Chairman of Bemis Company, Inc., will become the non-executive Chairman of the Board. In addition, Benjamin R. Field, formerly Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, is retiring as an officer, but will remain at Bemis as a Senior Financial Advisor.

Gene C. Wulf, formerly Vice President and Controller, has been promoted to Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, replacing Field. Stanley A. Jaffy has been promoted to Vice President and Controller, replacing Wulf.

The Board also elected two new officers of the Company. Henry J. Theisen has been promoted to Vice President of Bemis Company and President of Bemis High Barrier Products. Melanie E. R. Miller has been promoted to Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, reporting to Gene Wulf.

"These changes reflect the implementation of a succession plan that has been in the works for many years, and I am pleased to welcome several colleagues into their new roles. Bemis Company has been very successful over the past 20 years and has benefited greatly from the contributions of John Roe and Ben Field," said Jeff Curler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bemis. "Gene Wulf has been an integral part of the Bemis financial management team for many years. His strong leadership and experience throughout the organization will be extremely valuable as Bemis continues to strengthen its performance and market positions."

Gene Wulf joined Bemis in 1975 and has held various finance and information technology positions within Bemis' Flexible Packaging business. He was elected Vice President and Assistant Controller in 1997 and Vice President and Controller in 1998. Wulf is a CPA, received his MBA from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska.

Stan Jaffy joined Bemis in 1987 as Corporate Director of Tax and was promoted to Vice President of Tax and Assistant Controller in 1998. Jaffy is an attorney and a CPA, having received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota.

Henry Theisen began his career at Bemis in 1975 and has been President of Curwood since 1998. Prior to 1998, he held leadership positions in research and development as well as marketing for Bemis' Flexible Packaging business. Theisen received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin.

Melanie Miller joined Bemis in 2000 as Director of Investor Relations. Prior to joining Bemis Company, she served in finance and treasury management positions at Alliant Techsystems, Inc., an aerospace and defense company, and spent seven years in public accounting with KPMG. Miller is a CFA charterholder and a CPA. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Ohio University.

Bemis Company is a major supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials used by leading food, consumer products, manufacturing, and other companies worldwide.