Governance
The CEO and the Executive Team
The CEO is nominated and controlled by the Board of Directors. The terms of the CEO's employment are specified in a written CEO agreement, which is approved by the Board of Directors. The company discloses the CEO’s personal information, shareholdings, duties and financial benefits.
The duties of DNA’s CEO are as specified in the Limited Liability Companies Act. The CEO independently attends to the executive management of the company according to the strategic principles and goals approved by the Board of Directors and the operational plans and general principles confirmed by the Board of Directors (general competence).
The Group Executive Team comprises the CEO; Senior Vice Presidents of the Group’s business segments; the CFO; Chief Strategy Officer, Senior Vice President, Technology; Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs; Senior Vice President, Human Resources; and the CIO. The CEO is the Chairman of the Group Executive Team. Members of the Executive Team are nominated by the Board of Directors.
Members of the Executive Team
| Name | Position | Year of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Jussi Tolvanen | CEO | 1978 |
| Bjørn Taale Sandberg | CSO | 1964 |
| Vesa Vuoti | Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs | 1974 |
| Timo Kipinoinen | CFO | 1979 |
| Pekka Väisänen | Senior Vice President, Consumer Business | 1966 |
| Anna-Mari Ylihurula | Senior Vice President, Corporate Business | 1971 |
| Sari Leppänen | CTO | 1969 |
| Marko Rissanen | Senior Vice President, Human Resources | 1974 |
| Vilhelmiina Wahlbeck | Senior Vice President, Communications, Sustainability and Brand Development | 1976 |
Responsibilities of the CEO and executive team
Duties of the CEO and the Executive Team
CEO
- Ensuring that the accounts of the company are in compliance with the law and that its financial affairs have been arranged in a reliable manner;
- Managing the daily operations of the company according to the strategic principles and goals approved by the Board and the operational plans and general principles confirmed by the Board of Directors (general competence);
- Preparing proposals for resolutions and matters for Board meetings and presenting them to the Board and its Committees;
- Preparing the proposal for Executive Team members to the Board;
- Using the owner’s right to speak and vote in subsidiaries or nominating a person authorised to do so; and
- Chairing the DNA Executive Team and the Extended Executive Team.
The CEO does not have an employment contract with the company, and the CEO is not the company’s employee.
The DNA Executive Team helps the CEO in the management of the Group, and its duties include the following:
- Implementing the Group’s long-term strategic objectives;
- Coordinating Group management;
- Preparing the Group business plans, budget and investment plan and monitoring the Group’s financial development;
- Preparing significant investments as part of budget preparation and making separate decisions on proposals for possible additional investments;
- Managing and developing the Group brands;
- Preparing matters and reports for Board of Directors’ meetings;
- Managing activities that drive organic growth;
- Preparing matters pertaining to business and company acquisitions, managing related acquisition processes and making decision proposals for the Board of Directors;
- Preparing matters and decision-making pertaining to internationalisation;
- Deciding on Group-level development initiatives and main supplier selections;
- Approving Group-level principles, procedures and guidelines;
- Specifying risk management strategies, processes and emphases; and
- Internal control according to the principles approved by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.
The company’s Executive Team meets regularly about once a month, and as and when deemed necessary.