Longtime Richmond business leader dies at 77

John A. Luke Jr., a key figure in Richmond’s business community as the longtime chief executive of MeadWestvaco and its successor companies, died March 14 at his home in Vero Beach, Florida. He was 77.

Luke joined Westvaco in 1979, a paper and packaging company that traced its origins to a business founded by his family in the 1880s. He rose to chairman and CEO in 1992 and oversaw the company’s 2002 merger with the Mead Corp., forming MeadWestvaco.

He led the company through its 2015 merger with Rock-Tenn, creating WestRock, a global packaging company initially headquartered in Richmond with roughly $15 billion in annual revenue at the time and tens of thousands of employees worldwide. He later served as non-executive chairman of the combined company.

In 2024, WestRock — then headquartered in Georgia — merged with Irish company Smurfit Kappa to become global packaging company Smurfit WestRock.

Beyond his career, Luke had strong ties to Virginia Commonwealth University, first joining VCU’s board of visitors in 2012 and reappointed to a second four-year term on the board in 2016. He also served as rector from 2015-17 and as acting rector in 2019.

“John was a perfect gentleman and a true professional,” VCU President Michael Rao said in a statement. “He was the model of civility and respectful behavior in all settings. He was incredibly supportive of leaders, particularly when leaders would need to make difficult decisions that may not have met the support of every person. John and his wife, Kathleen, have been longtime friends and advocates of VCU. Monica and I send our deepest sympathy to Kathleen and to the entire Luke family.”

Luke also served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, including FM Global, the Bank of New York Mellon, the Timken Co., the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Community Foundation serving Richmond and Central Virginia.

He was a member of the National Association of Manufacturers board from 2001 through 2016, serving as chair from 2005-06.

“As our board chair, John’s passion for the strength and success of manufacturing was matched only by his steady focus on credible and durable solutions,” NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said in a statement. “Thoughtful and considerate, he knew how to ask the right questions — and hard questions — of policymakers.”

Luke served as an officer in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. According to his obituary, he left active duty as first lieutenant in 1974.

He had a bachelor’s degree from  Lawrence University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his two siblings, three children and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held March 26 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Richmond.