8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

January 21, 2009

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-13948	62-1612879
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission file number)	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)
100 North Point Center East, Suite 600
Alpharetta, Georgia		30022
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

1-800-514-0186
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.  (17 CFR 230.425)

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act. (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act. (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.  (17 CFR 240.13c-4(c))

Item 5.02Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

Appointment of Principal Officers

Effective January 21, 2009, Peter J. Thompson, age 46, has been appointed Treasurer, Chief Financial and Strategic Planning Officer to succeed Torben Wetche, who resigned from the position of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Thompson has served as Vice-President — Strategic Planning since August 2008. From August 2006 to August 2008, Mr. Thompson served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. He has over 12 years of service with the Company, including President-U.S. Operations from November 1998 to August 2006.

Mr. Thompson’s compensation will consist of a base salary of $335,000 per year plus a target annual incentive cash bonus of 45 percent of base salary and a long-term incentive bonus targeted at 90 percent of base salary, which is payable in the Company’s restricted stock.  Mr. Thompson does not have an employment contract with the Company. He will receive health and welfare and other benefits on the same terms made available to all salaried employees.

The January 22, 2009, press release announcing the change is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits

99.1 Press Release, dated January 22, 2009, of Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., announcing senior management changes.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.
	By:	/s/ Peter J. Thompson
		Peter J. Thompson
		Treasurer, Chief Financial and Strategic
		Planning Officer
Dated: January 22, 2009

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EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

PRESS RELEASE	Contact:	Bill Foust
		770-569-4203

SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT ANNOUNCES SENIOR MANAGEMENT CHANGES

Alpharetta, GA, January 22, 2009.  Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. (NYSE:SWM) today announced the following new management position and changes effective today:

Peter J. Thompson, age 46, current Vice President-Strategic Planning, will be assuming  the new position of Treasurer, Chief Financial and Strategic Planning Officer, reporting to FredericVilloutreix, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.   Mr. Thompson had served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from August 2006 to August 2008 and as Vice President-Strategic Planning from August 2008 to the present.  Pete has over 12 years of service with Schweitzer-Mauduit.  Previously, he was President-U.S. Operations from November 1998 to August 2006.  As part of the restructuring of its financial management organization, the Company also recently created the positions of Corporate Treasury Director, located in Alpharetta, and Finance and Treasury Director - Asia, located in the Company’s new Philippine Regional Operating Headquarters.

Mr. Thompson is replacing Mr. Torben Wetche who joined the Company in August 2008 as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

In announcing this change Mr. Villoutreix stated, “Pete did a fine job as our CFO and was instrumental in all of our restructuring initiatives, planning and controls, and maintaining investor and banking relations.   I have valued his significant contributions and tireless efforts to move the Company toward success in his VP-Strategic Planning role and expect that the consolidation of these two roles will further enhance our management structure and ability to effectively implement the group’s strategic objectives.   We are pleased that Pete has agreed to assume the restructured position as we transform the Company to concentrate on the development of its value-added products.

As Torben voluntarily leaves Schweitzer-Mauduit, I want to thank him for his contributions and efforts in completing the management of our financial affairs in 2008, preparing for 2009 and for his many contributions in helping us move toward a more streamlined financial management organization.  As a result of this reorganization, Torben will be leaving the company.”

In turn, Mr. Thompson commented, “With the management change announced today, I look forward to assuming financial management responsibilities while continuing to focus on the implementation of the strategic vision Frederic Villoutreix and the other officers and I share for the Company.  I have enjoyed the challenges of being able to fully address our key strategic initiatives and look forward to performing in this newly integrated role at Schweitzer-Mauduit.”

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. is a diversified producer of premium specialty papers and the world’s largest supplier of fine papers to the tobacco industry.  It also manufactures specialty papers for other applications.  Schweitzer-Mauduit and its subsidiaries conduct business in over 90 countries and employ 3,200 people worldwide, with operations in the United States, France, Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, Canada and a joint venture in China.  For further information, please visit the Company’s Web site at www.schweitzer-mauduit.com.

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