VTT is renewing its Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to support the implementation of its new strategy and operating model. The new strategy will be published on 3 June.
The objective of the new ELT is to ensure the successful execution of the upcoming strategy and to accelerate the conditions for growth.
“Our goal at VTT is to invest in growth areas and to create significant impact through research. With the new organisation, we aim to strengthen synergies between research themes and to establish more unified leadership and ways of working. The renewed ELT brings together strong existing expertise and new perspectives, supporting the implementation of our strategy and strengthening our culture,” says VTT’s President and CEO Kalle Härkki.
New appointments to the Executive Leadership Team
Soile Kankaanpää (MSc Econ) has been appointed Executive Vice President, Customer Operations. She will be responsible for developing VTT’s commercial operations and for managing and growing customer relationships.
Kankaanpää has extensive experience in business leadership, sales and customer management across industries in large global organisations, as well as as an entrepreneur and consultant. Most recently, she has worked as an entrepreneur and consultant focusing on growth strategies, commercial development and customer-centric business building. She has also served as Chief Commercial Officer at ISS Finland. Her career includes roles developing industrial and technology businesses at Nokia Networks, Konecranes, Outotec and Uponor.
VTT’s Senior Vice President, Communications and Brand, Leena Rantasalo (M.Soc.Sc.), will join the ELT as a new member. Rantasalo has worked at VTT since spring 2018, developing communications, brand and culture. Previously, she has held communications roles at the pension insurance company Varma, in the pharmaceutical industry and in the public sector. Communications will play an increasingly important role in supporting strategy execution, leadership, change and a unified culture. The aim is to make VTT’s impact clearly visible and to position VTT as a driver of growth.
Continuity in key roles
VTT will combine its three business areas into two and establish a new unit to strengthen the use of artificial intelligence in research and to enhance digital capabilities.
Erja Turunen (DSc Tech) will lead the new Digital systems business area. Recruitment for the head of the second business area, Materials and energy, is ongoing.
Tua Huomo (PhD, MBA) will lead the new Digital transformation unit. Its mission is to accelerate the use of AI and data in research and to advance VTT’s digital transformation.
Other members continuing in the ELT include Chief Financial Officer Vesa Leino (MSc Econ), who will lead the Finance and services unit, and Senior Vice President, Strategy, Laura Juvonen (DSc Tech), who will lead the Incubation and strategy unit, with a key role in accelerating the creation of startups.
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Kirsi Nuotto (MA) will continue to lead the People and culture unit.
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