Suominen Oyj - Changes board/management/auditors

Suominen reshapes its corporate structure and changes the composition of its Corporate Executive Team

Helsinki, Finland, 2013-09-30 09:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Suominen
Corporation  Stock Exchange Release  30 September 2013 at 10.00 (EEST) 

SUOMINEN RESHAPES ITS CORPORATE STRUCTURE AND CHANGES THE COMPOSITION OF ITS
CORPORATE EXECUTIVE TEAM 

Suominen Corporation reshapes its corporate and management structure and
reorganizes 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 
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
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. 


SUOMINEN CORPORATION
Nina Kopola, President & CEO

For further information, please contact: Nina Kopola, President & CEO, tel.
+358 10 214 300 

Suominen in brief

Suominen supplies its industrial and retail customers with nonwovens and
flexible packaging for use in consumer products worldwide. Suominen is the
global market leader in nonwovens for wipes. The company employs more than
1,000 people in Europe and in the United States. Suominen's net sales in 2012
amounted to MEUR 410.4 and operating profit excluding non-recurring items was
MEUR 12.9 (continuing operations). The Suominen share (SUY1V) is listed in
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Stock Exchange. Read more at www.suominen.fi. 


Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
Main media
www.suominen.fi