M-real - Changes board/management/auditors

M-real renews its management and reporting structure, Pasi Piiparinen appointed SVP, Head of Paperboard business area

M-real Corporation Stock Exchange Release 19 January 2012 at 15.00 EET

M-real Corporation, part of Metsäliitto Group, renews its management and
reporting structure to better reflect the company's strategy and the focus on
fresh forest fibre paperboard. 

M-real operates through two business areas that are also the company's
reporting segments from first quarter of 2012 onwards: 
- Paperboard
- Paper and Pulp

Pasi Piiparinen (50) has been appointed SVP, Head of Paperboard business area
and a member of M-real Corporate Management Team as of 20 March 2012.
Piiparinen reports to CEO Mikko Helander. Piiparinen joins M-real from Stora
Enso where his latest position was SVP, Sales and Marketing, Fine Paper
Business Area. Piiparinen has an extensive background also in Stora Enso's
packaging business. His education is Master of Science, Engineering. 

As earlier announced, Mika Joukio, current SVP, Head of Paperboard business
area has been appointed CEO of Metsä Tissue Corporation as of 1 February 2012.
After Mika Joukio leaves and before Pasi Piiparinen starts in his new position,
CEO Mikko Helander will be the acting Head of Paperboard business area. 

M-real's Corporate Management Team consists of the following persons:
- Mikko Helander, CEO, also acting Head of Paperboard business area starting
from 1 February 2012 until 19 March 2012 
- Matti Mörsky, CFO
- Pasi Piiparinen, SVP, Head of Paperboard business area as of 20 March 2012
- Seppo Puotinen, SVP, Head of Paper and Pulp business area
- Sari Pajari, SVP, Supply Chain and Business Development
- Mika Paljakka, SVP, HR
- Jani Suomalainen, SVP, Procurement

The changes in management structure take effect immediately.

Soili Hietanen and Heikki Husso will step out of M-real's Corporate Management
Team. Husso continues as the Managing Director of M-real Zanders GmbH while
Hietanen will work in different development projects in the M-real head office. 

Paperboard business area includes the Kemi, Kyro, Simpele, Tako and Äänekoski
board mills, Kyro wallpaper base machine and Joutseno BCTMP mill located in
Finland as well as Gohrsmühle mill in Germany. Paper and Pulp business area
includes Husum paper and pulp mill in Sweden, Alizay mill in France and
Kaskinen BCTMP mill in Finland. 

As earlier announced, M-real is planning to close the entire Alizay mill and
the unprofitable operations at Gohrsmühle mill. The plans are expected to
materialize in early 2012 that would improve the company's profitability
materially. 

The accounting treatment of the M-real's 32 percent ownership in Metsä-Botnia
will remain unchanged. The associated company result of Metsä-Botnia will be
allocated to business segments based on their respective pulp consumption. 
Roughly two thirds of the result impact of Metsä-Botnia ownership is expected
to be included in the Paperboard business area and the rest in Paper and Pulp
business area. 

M-real will announce its financial statements 2011 on 9 February 2012 based on
the old business area and reporting structure. The restated historical figures
based on the new business structure will be released during the second half of
February 2012. 

M-REAL CORPORATION

For further information, please contact:
Matti Mörsky, CFO, tel. +358 10 465 4913
Juha Laine, Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications, tel. +358 10
465 4335 

Attachment: Pasi Piiparinen's work experience

Attachments:

Work experience_Pasi Piiparinen.pdf