A veteran Sappi executive with Maine ties has been put in charge of the paper company’s North American operations.

Mark Gardner, 52, who lives in Kittery, will take over as president and chief executive officer of Sappi Fine Paper North America on Oct. 1. He has been interim CEO since Ronee Hagen resigned in April and prior to that was vice president of manufacturing.

Gardner, who has been with Sappi for 26 years, graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology.

In Maine, Sappi operates paper mills in Somerset and Westbrook, where it also has a technology center.