Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 02 November 2009 -- /PRNewswire/ -- AbitibiBowater announced today the resignation, for personal reasons, of John W. Weaver from the company's board of directors. This departure was formally accepted and took effect on 31 October 2009.

"John was a driving force behind the creation of AbitibiBowater and he has continued to support the organization as it progresses through its current restructuring," commented David J. Paterson, president and chief executive officer. "On behalf of AbitibiBowater, I would like to thank John for his contributions and dedication. I wish him all the best as he moves forward in his professional and personal life."

As announced on 22 January 2009, Weaver continued to serve as director on the company's board to permit an orderly transition following his retirement as non-executive chairman of AbitibiBowater on 01 February 2009.

Weaver is the former executive chairman of AbitibiBowater. He served as president and chief executive officer of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. from 1999 to October 2007. During his more than 30 years of experience in the forest products industry, Weaver held a number of senior executive positions in operations and sales before being appointed president and chief executive officer of Abitibi-Consolidated.

AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp, and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world. AbitibiBowater owns or operates 23 pulp and paper facilities and 29 wood products facilities located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. Marketing its products in more than 90 countries, the company is also among the world's largest recyclers of old newspapers and magazines, and has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to sustainable forest management standards. AbitibiBowater's shares trade over-the-counter on the Pink Sheets and on the OTC Bulletin Board under the stock symbol ABWTQ.