WestRock, a leading provider of sustainable paper and packaging solutions, will serve as the case company for the 10th annual SEC MBA Case Competition, hosted by the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. The event will feature MBA student teams representing all 14 Southeastern Conference universities and is set to take place March 30 to April 1.

“WestRock is an outstanding corporate partner for the case competition, and the Terry College of Business is thrilled to have this Georgia-based company and market leader on board,” said Santanu Chatterjee, Terry’s associate dean for diversity, international and master’s programs and chair of the 2023 competition. “As a company focused on material science, packaging design and product innovation, WestRock operates at the leading edge of sustainability and profitability — vital topics for future business leaders.”

WestRock will present the student teams with a case study pertaining to a current business concern on March 31. Teams will have about 24 hours to analyze the case and recommend strategies and solutions to executives from WestRock who will serve as judges. The top four teams will compete for a prize pool of $20,000 in the final round on April 1.

“The WestRock operational footprint spans over 30 countries worldwide, including the southeastern United States, and faces a range of business challenges each day. The company understands that real-time exposure is critical for emerging professionals and looks forward to the assessments and perspectives generated during this competition,” said Alex Pease, chief financial officer and executive vice president at WestRock.

In both the preliminary and final rounds, competitors will deliver 20-minute presentations to a panel of judges, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session. The students’ identities and college affiliations will not be revealed to the judges to ensure the contest’s impartiality.