Finnair Plc Stock Exchange Release 31 December 2013 at 10.30 am EET
The head of Finnair’s Travel Services and a member of Finnair’s Executive Board, D.Sc. (Econ.), Kaisa Vikkula leaves Finnair on January 31, 2014. She has worked at Finnair since 2006. Most recently Vikkula has been responsible for Finnair Travel Services i.e. Suntours, Area, Finland Travel Bureau, Estravel and Amadeus Finland. Area and Finland Travel Bureau merged under the name of SMT in December. Vikkula has additionally been responsible for certain Finnair’s structural change projects including the Finnair's catering partnership agreement with LSG Sky Chefs and establishing Finnair Flight Academy as well as for Finnair Leisure Flights.
- During her Finnair years Kaisa Vikkula has done a great job and participated actively in executing Finnair’s structural change program. I well understand her desire to leave Finnair now, as many of the projects under her responsibility have been completed. I wish Kaisa every success also in her new challenges in the future, says Finnair CEO Pekka Vauramo.
- The past eight years with Finnair have been extremely interesting. I have had the opportunity to work with the leading travel brands in Finland and during a major structural change as internet and low cost carriers have revolutionized the airline business. Suntours is the most appreciated travel brand in Finland, and the new SMT will push towards becoming the leading business travel agency in Finland. As the merger of business travel agencies Area and SMT is now in the implementation phase, I feel that my job is done, and it is time to start doing something new.
Going forward, the companies belonging to the Travel Services will report to Allister Paterson, the head of Finnair’s Commercial division from January 1, 2014. This means there will be one less member on the Executive Board.
Further information:
Finnair Media Desk, tel. +358 9 818 4020, comms(at)finnair.com
Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
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