Finnair Oyj - Changes board/management/auditors

Allister Paterson to head Finnair’s commercial division – Mika Perho leaves Finnair

Finnair has appointed Allister Paterson (born in 1960) Senior Vice President,
Commercial Division and a member of the Finnair Executive Board as of January
7, 2013.  Mika Perho, the current head of Finnair's Commercial Division has
announced he will leave the company at the end of December, 2012. 

The Canada-born Paterson has most recently served as Chairman, President and
CEO of Seaway Marine Transportation. He began his career at Pacific Western
Airlines (predecessor to Canadian Airlines). He also worked for several years
in Air New Zealand in Auckland, where he held senior leadership positions,
including acting CEO, and gained valuable experience of the aviation market in
Oceania and Asia. Prior to joining Seaway Marine Transport, he was the
President and CEO of Air Canada Vacations. 

”Allister Paterson has a strong commercial background and international airline
experience. He is an excellent addition to our team as we seek growth and
continue to develop Finnair as a strong player in Asia-Europe traffic”, says
Mika Vehviläinen, Finnair CEO. 

”At the same time, I want to express my warm thanks to Mika Perho. His input in
implementing Finnair's Asia strategy, building the Finnair brand and developing
our company has been significant. It is largely thanks to Mika's broad business
understanding that Finnair has been able to establish bridgeheads into key
markets in Asia in a very tight competitive situation. Our customers and
cooperation partners know him as ‘Mr. Finnair' ”, Vehviläinen says. 

Mika Perho has worked at Finnair for a long time in sales and marketing
leadership positions and as the head of Commercial Division since 2001. He has
been a member of the Finnair Executive Board since 2007. 

“I have greatly enjoyed the challenge of developing Finnair into an
international airline”, says Mika Perho. “When we set out to implement our Asia
strategy, we could not take success for granted. I feel slightly nostalgic
about leaving Finnair, but I also feel that after several years, now it is the
time to start exploring new challenges.“ 

Paterson who succeeds Perho says Finnair in part resembles his previous airline
employers. “Canada and New Zealand have similarities to Finland as markets, but
the geographical position of Finland has enabled Finnair's unique strategy.
Despite a small home market, Finnair has great growth potential,” Paterson
says. 

“I am eager to implement the company's strategy with the rest of the Finnair
team. Doubling the company's Asian revenues by 2020, and strengthening the
company´s position in the Scandinavian market are challenges that inspire me.
Under the leadership of my predecessor, Finnair has systematically built its
position in Asia and this forms a solid ground for continuing the work”,
Paterson continues. 

For more information: Finnair Media desk, tel +358 9 818 4020,
comms(at)finnair.com 

Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Principal Media