SINGAPORE (From TODAY Online) -- Former chief executive of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) Jose Raymond has been appointed vice president of corporate affairs (Singapore) at Asia Pulp & Paper, a company that produces pulp, paper and packaging.

The company stirred up controversy last year, when the SEC temporarily restricted the use of the paper producer's Singapore Green Label certification, after it emerged that there were alleged links to the Indonesian forest fires causing the transboundary haze.

Following that, as well as investigations by the council and the National Environment Agency, supermarkets such as NTUC FairPrice, Prime and Sheng Shiong pulled the company's products such as toilet rolls and tissue papers off their shelves.

Ms Aida Greenbury, managing director of sustainability at Asia Pulp & Paper, said of her firm's new hire: "Mr Raymond will manage the company's relationships with its stakeholders, key customers and Singaporean consumers. He brings a wealth of experience over his 20-year career as a journalist, business manager and administrator, as well as expertise in issues pertaining to sustainability."

Mr Raymond told TODAY this was an "amazing opportunity" and he was "thankful that the company has chosen a Singaporean as one of its senior executives".

"APP has been on a transformation journey on the road to being a leader in sustainability," he added.

Mr Raymond headed the SEC from late 2011 to January 2015.