Sanoma combines Belgian and Dutch media operations


Sanoma Corporation, Stock Exchange Release, 18 December 2014 at 10:30 CET+1

Sanoma announced a redesign of its consumer media operations on 31 October 2013. After a thorough investigation into future scenarios for Sanoma Media Belgium, a decision has now been taken to combine Sanoma’s Belgian consumer media operations with those in the Netherlands from 1 January 2015. This combination will create the most strategic and financial value in both markets, enhancing the overall strategic position of Sanoma. The combined companies will be led by incumbent Dutch CEO Peter de Mönnink.

Henk Scheenstra, currently COO Content Media in the Netherlands, is appointed as Chairman of the Management Board of Sanoma Media Belgium. He will be responsible for topline growth of the company, capturing all possible synergies and integration opportunities, leveraging the knowledge and experience of both companies. Scheenstra will report into Peter de Mönnink. Sanoma strives to finalize the integration process within twelve months.

“We have received a lot of interest in our Belgian consumer media company,” comments Harri-Pekka Kaukonen, President and CEO of the Sanoma Group. “After exhaustive discussions and careful consideration we have concluded that the new Belgo-Dutch combination is the best route back to profitable growth.”

“Our ambition is to develop into the leading, most innovative media house in the BeNe countries that offers the most desired solutions to our consumers and advertisers, and that’s very exciting,” Kaukonen concludes.

Additional information
Sanoma’s Investor Relations, Olli Turunen, tel. +358 40 552 8907

For media inquiries
Sanoma’s Group Communications, Robin Janszen, tel. +31 6 2293 2643

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Sanoma is a front running consumer media and learning company in Europe. In Finland and The Netherlands we are the market leading media company with a broad presence across multiple platforms. Our main markets in learning are Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden. In 2013, Sanoma’s net sales totalled EUR 2.1 billion. Sanoma is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki stock exchange.