HELSINKI, Finland — September 30, 2013 — Suominen Corp. reshaped its corporate and management
structure and reorganized its operations to further accelerate the implementation of its strategy.
Through the changes, Suominen aims to achieve a more focused, transparent and agile operating
model, which enables the company to further strengthen its ability to generate new business.
“Reshaping the structure and operating model is an essential and at the same time logical
step in the strategic path we have chosen. To implement our strategy, and particularly its “In the
Lead” cornerstone, a significant change in our way of working is required. Among other important
objectives, we seek to speed up our capability to create new business and launch new products with
higher value add to the market. With the more focused and customer derived operating model, we
further enhance our ability to cater for specific customer needs and thereby accelerate both our
own and our customers’ business; and ultimately improve our profitability”, says Nina Kopola,
President & CEO of Suominen Corporation.
Nonwovens business unit will be divided into two business areas.
Suominen’s largest business unit, Nonwovens, will be divided into two new business areas,
Convenience and Care, as of 1 January 2014.
Convenience business area will focus on serving customers in wiping, travel and catering
businesses. Based on 2012 sales, the annual net sales of Convenience were approximately EUR 322
million. Care business area will focus on customers in medical and hygiene businesses. Based on
2012 sales, the annual net sales of Care were approximately EUR 36 million. Both Convenience and
Care will be reported under Nonwovens segment as of 1 January 2014. Factually, the content of the
Nonwovens segment is equal to that of the current Wiping segment.
Suominen’s other business unit, Flexibles, has been restructured in order to strengthen its
ability to serve its customers better and in a more efficient way. Flexibles will focus on four
businesses: bread packaging, tissue wrapping, retail carrier bags and special products. Flexibles
business area continues to be reported under Flexibles segment. The net sales of Flexibles were EUR
53 million in 2012.
Changes in the management model and in the Corporate Executive Team
The structural changes will have an impact on Suominen’s management model and to the
composition of the Corporate Executive Team of Suominen Corporation (CET), whose primary task is to
support the President & CEO in her responsibilities. As of 1 January 2014, the CET will include
the following members:
- Nina Kopola, President & CEO and Senior Vice President, Care (acting); Chairman of the
CET; - Tapio Engström, Senior Vice President, CFO;
- Timo Hiekkaranta, Senior Vice President, Convenience; new member;
- Olli E. Juvonen, Senior Vice President, Flexibles;
- Larry Kinn, Senior Vice President, Operations North America*; new member;
- Mimoun Saim, Senior Vice President, Operations Europe* and Sourcing (acting); new member; and
- Hannu Sivula, Senior Vice President, Human Resources.
The new members of the CET all have a long and versatile experience in the nonwovens
business and are promoted from within the current Suominen Nonwovens business unit. Timo
Hiekkaranta acts currently as the Vice President, Sales. Mimoun Saim acts as the Vice President,
Operations Europe and Sourcing and Larry Kinn as Vice President, Operations Americas and HSE.
A new body in the Suominen management model is the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT), which
will act as of 1 January 2014 as an extended management team supporting President and CEO in the
execution of strategic programs and creating functional expertise. In addition to the members of
the CET, the CLT will include the following persons:
- Anu Heinonen, Vice President, Corporate Communications & IR;
- Margareta Huldén, Vice President, R&D*;
- Roberto Pedoja, Vice President, Technology*;
- Timo Rautakorpi, Vice President, CIO; and
- Saara Söderberg, Vice President, Marketing & Product Management*.
The members of the CLT will report to Nina Kopola, President & CEO. The members marked
with an asterisk (*) will focus on Convenience and Care business areas.
In accordance with the company’s plans, Mr. Jean-Marie Becker would step aside as Executive
Vice President of Suominen Nonwovens and would, consequently, no longer be a member of the
Corporate Executive Team as of 1 January 2014. Suominen has already presented Jean-Marie Becker new
alternatives for his future career within the company.
Posted September 30, 2013
Source: Suominen Corp.
