Metsäliitto Group Stock Exchange release 22.4.2008 Ilkka Hämälä (47) has been appointed President and CEO of Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab with effect from 1 September 2008. Erkki Varis, the company's current President and CEO, will retire on 31 August 2008 having reached the retirement age agreed in his contract. Ilkka Hämälä obtained his M.Sc. degree in engineering from the Helsinki University of Technology in 1986. He has held appointments at United Paper Mills as well as several posts within Metsä-Botnia. His most recent position was Vice President, responsible for pulp production and logistics. For more information: Anne-Mari Achrén, Group CCO, Metsäliitto Group, tel. +358 10 465 4541