CEO and other management

CEO

Esa Kaikkonen, LL.M., trained on the bench, born in 1969, started as the Company's Chief Executive Officer on 7th April 2025. The CEO is responsible for the daily management of the Company’s administration according to the guidelines and instructions given by the Board. In addition, the CEO is responsible for ensuring that the Company’s accounting has been carried out according to applicable laws and that asset management has been organised in a reliable manner. The CEO manages the Company’s daily business and is responsible for controlling and steering the businesses.

The CEO has a written contract approved by the Board. The Board monitors the CEO’s performance and provides a performance evaluation once a year. The CEO is covered by the Finnish Employees’ Pension Act, which provides for a pension compensation based on service years and earnings. Basic salary, rewards and fringe benefits are included in the calculation, but not stock option or share plan based income.

The Board appoints and discharges the CEO. The Board can discharge the CEO without a specific reason. The CEO can also resign from his assignment. The mutual term of notice is six months. The Board may, however, decide to discharge the CEO without a period of notice. When the service contract of the CEO is terminated by the Board, the CEO is entitled to receive discharge compensation equal to his 12-month salary.

Deputy to the CEO

The Board can at its discretion appoint a Deputy to the CEO. The Deputy to the CEO is responsible for carrying out the CEO's tasks when the CEO in unable to perform his duties. For the time being no Deputy to the CEO has been appointed.

CEO

Esa Kaikkonen

CEO

Esa Kaikkonen

b. 1969

LL.M., trained on the bench
Chief Executive Officer

Metsä Group employee since 1998. CEO of Metsä Board Corporation since 2025.

Main positions:

Metsä Group, Executive Vice President, Strategy (2025)
Metsä Tissue Corporation, CEO (2018–2025)
Metsä Wood, Executive Vice President (2013–2018)
Metsä Group, Executive Vice President, Strategy (2017–2018)
Metsä Group, General Counsel (2003–2013)
Metsäliitto Group (today Metsä Group), Legal counsel (2000–2003)
Metsä-Serla Corporation (today Metsä Board Corporation), Legal counsel (1998–2000)

Main positions of trust:

Metsä Greaseproof Papers Oy, Chair of the Board (2021–2025)
Finnish Forest Industries Federation, Member of the Board (2018–)
Metsä Spring Oy, Member of the Board (2018–)
Metsä Fibre Oy, Member of the Board (2017–)
Pohjolan Voima Oyj, Member of the Board (2017–)
Teollisuuden Voima Oyj, Member of the Board (2017–)
Maanpuolustuskurssiyhdistys ry, Member of the Board (2020–)
Federation of the Finnish Woodworking Industries, Chair of the Board (2015–2016), Member of the Board (2017–2018)

SHARES OWNED IN METSÄ BOARD CORPORATION
Chief Financial Officer

Henri Sederholm

Chief Financial Officer

Henri Sederholm

b. 1978

M.Sc. (Econ)

Chief Financial Officer

Metsä Group employee since 2003. Member of Metsä Board Corporate Management Team since May 2021.

Main positions:

Metsä Board Corporation, Chief Financial Officer (2021–)
Metsä Group, Senior Vice President, Group Finance (2016–2021)
Metsä Wood, Chief Financial Officer (2015–2016)
Metsä Board Corporation, Vice President, Finance & Control (2009–2015)
Metsä Group Treasury, Long-term Funding (2003–2009)

SHARES OWNED IN METSÄ BOARD CORPORATION
Senior Vice President, Development

Markku Leskelä

Senior Vice President, Development

Markku Leskelä

b. 1962

PhD.
Senior Vice President, Development

Metsä Group employee since 2016. Member of Metsä Board Corporate Management Team since October 2021.

Main positions:
Metsä Board Corporation, Vice President, Development (2021–)
Metsä Board Corporation, Vice President, Research and Product Development (2016–2021)
CLIC Innovation Ltd, Chief Technology Officer (2012–2015)
Paperra Oy, Partner (2010–2012)
Metsä Wood, Vice President, R&D (2009–2010)
Metsä Board Corporation, Vice President, R&D (2007–2009)
Metsä Board Corporation, Vice President, R&D, Head of Technology Centre Kirkniemi (2001–2007)
Metsä Board Corporation, various positions in R&D (1991–2001)
ESPRI/State University of New York, Syracuse, Visiting Scientist (1990–1991)
University of Oulu, Department of Biophysics, Research Scientist (1987–1990)

SHARES OWNED IN METSÄ BOARD CORPORATION
Senior Vice President, Sales and Supply Chain

Jussi Noponen

Senior Vice President, Sales and Supply Chain

Jussi Noponen

b. 1975

M.Sc. (Tech.)
Senior Vice President, Sales and Supply Chain

Metsä Group employee since 2000. Member of Metsä Board Corporate Management Team since 2016.

Main positions:
Metsä Board Corporation, CFO (2016–2021)
Metsä Group, Senior Vice President, Group Finance (2009–2016)
Metsä Board Corporation, Senior Vice President, Business Control, Graphic Papers (2008)
Metsä Board Corporation, Vice President, Group Business Control (2006–2008)
Metsä Board Corporation, Business Controller, Folding Cartons (2003–2006)
Nokia Corporation (1999–2000) and Metsä Group (2000–2003), SAP system implementation projects in finance

SHARES OWNED IN METSÄ BOARD CORPORATION
Senior Vice President, Production and Technology

Harri Pihlajaniemi

Senior Vice President, Production and Technology

Harri Pihlajaniemi

b. 1970

M.Sc. (Tech)
Senior Vice President, Production and Technology

Metsä Group employee since 2017. Member of Metsä Board Corporate Management Team since 2017.

Main positions:
Stora Enso Corporation, Vice President, Operations Excellence & Investments (2012–2017)
Stora Enso Corporation, Mill Director, Publication Paper, Veitsiluoto mill (2011–2012)
Stora Enso Corporation, Production Director, Oulu paper mill (2008–2011)
Stora Enso Corporation, Production Manager PM6, Oulu mill (2006–2007)
Stora Enso Corporation, Production Manager PM7, Oulu mill (2004–2005)
Metsä Board Corporation, Production Manager PM3, Kirkniemi mill (2001–2004)

SHARES OWNED IN METSÄ BOARD CORPORATION
Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Camilla Wikström

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Camilla Wikström

b. 1970

M.Sc. (Eng)
Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Metsä Group employee since 2002. Member of Metsä Board Corporate Management Team since 2019.

Main positions:
Metsä Fibre Oy, SVP Production, pulp (2018–2019)
Metsä Fibre Oy, VP, Äänekoski Mill (2009–2017)
Oy Metsä Botnia Ab (now Metsä Fibre Oy), various positions (2002–2008)
Herkules Ab, various positions in sales and customer service (1995–2002)
Botnia Mill Service Oy, board member (2018–2019)

SHARES OWNED IN METSÄ BOARD CORPORATION

Corporate Management team with responsibilities

Each Corporate Management Team member has a written employment or service contract. With the exception of the CEO, members of the Corporate Management Team have no extraordinary pension arrangements which would deviate from applicable pension legislation. With the exception of the CEO, the term of notice of Corporate Management Team members is six months.

The Corporate Management Team’s tasks and responsibilities include planning investments, specifying and preparing the Company’s strategic guidelines, allocating resources, controlling routine functions as well as preparing several matters to be reviewed by the Board.

The Corporate Management Team convenes at the Chair's invitation once a month, as a rule, and also otherwise when necessary.

CEO

Deputy to the CEO

Esa Kaikkonen

Henri Sederholm

Markku Leskelä

Jussi Noponen

Harri Pihlajaniemi

Camilla Wikström

Corporate Management team with responsibilities