(Stock Exchange Release)
Kemira Group's Board of Directors has appointed Harri Kerminen, M.Sc.
(Eng.), MBA, 56, as the new CEO of Kemira Group as of January 1,
2008. Mr Kerminen is currently President of Kemira Pulp&Paper,
Kemira's largest business area.
With effect from the same date, Kemira's current President and CEO,
Lasse Kurkilahti will become Senior Adviser to the Board of Kemira
Group. Mr. Kurkilahti will remain as Senior Adviser for the first
quarter of 2008, after which his contract with Kemira will come to an
end in line with a prior agreement.
Harri Kerminen has held his current position as President of Kemira
Pulp&Paper since 2006. Prior to that, he was responsible for the
Kemira Specialty business area. In his earlier career with Kemira, he
has acted as e.g. Vice President HR of Kemira Chemicals Oy, Manager
of the Kemira Oulu plants as well as working on various challenging
production site projects both in Finland and abroad."Kemira has made rapid progress in recent years and numerous
corporate acquisitions and disposals have shaped Kemira into a
dynamic international group", states Kemira's Chairman of the Board
Pekka Paasikivi. "We are well satisfied with the progress that has
been made in Kemira under the leadership of CEO Kurkilahti.""Harri Kerminen has thorough knowledge of the global chemicals
business, a deep understanding of our customer industries and broad
knowledge of Kemira. He is capable of effective and purposeful
leadership as well as the continual development of our corporate
culture", Pekka Paasikivi continues. "Constant improvements in
profitability and the strengthening of the balance sheet are among
the corporation's key tasks. Improving Kemira's international
competitiveness is the cornerstone of our strategic planning.
Kemira's Board is convinced that, under the leadership of Harri
Kerminen, the Group will be well placed to continue increasing
shareholder value", Paasikivi concludes.
Further information is available from:
Pekka Paasikivi
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kemira Group
Phone +358 10 862 1846
Harri Kerminen
President, Kemira Pulp&Paper
Phone +358 10 862 1231
Kemira is a chemicals group made up of four business areas: Kemira
Pulp&Paper, Kemira Water, Kemira Specialty and Kemira Coatings.
Kemira is a global group of leading chemical businesses with a unique
competitive position and a high degree of mutual synergy.
In 2006, Kemira recorded revenue of around EUR 2.5 billion and had a
payroll of 9,000 employees. Kemira operates in 40 countries.
www.kemira.com
