ATLANTA - Plywood and panel maker Arauco will combine all its U.S. and Canadian sales and operations into one organization, effective August 1. Headquarters for Arauco North America will be in Atlanta, GA.

Kelly Shotbolt will be appointed president of Arauco North America. Shotbolt has been serving as president of Flakeboard. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Arauco since 2012, Flakeboard manufactures composite and thermally fused laminate panels.

Based in Santiago Chile, Arauco manufactures composite wood panels, plywood, millwork, lumber and pulp procured from company-owned and managed forests throughout South America. Francisco Figueroa, president of Arauco Wood Products in Atlanta since 2009, has been appointed to a senior management commercial role with Arauco and will relocate to Chile.

"The primary objective of this reorganization is to position for growth and provide comprehensive solutions to our customers using a more effective and efficient operating platform. We will continue to build relevant synergies to those that exist today, and to expand on these through this new structure," said a statement from Gonzalo Zegers, senior vice president of Arauco International.

Arauco said the consolidation of the U.S. and Canadian operations also will strengthen the company in terms of domestic and off-shore manufacturing.