VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 04/19/12 -- West Fraser (TSX: WFT) today announced the appointment of Edward ("Ted") R. Seraphim as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Seraphim joined the Company in 1997 and has held the positions of Vice-President, Pulp & Paper Sales, Vice-President, Pulp & Paper and was most recently Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer.

Hank Ketcham, who continues as the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and who served as West Fraser's President for 26 years, said, "I am delighted that Ted has accepted this important role and I am looking forward, together with our entire senior executive team, to working together to achieve continued success for our investors, our employees and our communities."

West Fraser is an integrated wood products company producing lumber, wood chips, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp and newsprint. The Company has operations in western Canada and the southern United States.

West Fraser shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol: "WFT".