Spinnova’s Nomination Board proposes that CEO Janne Poranen and Sari Pohjonen be appointed as new members of Spinnova’s Board of Directors. Therefore, a new search has begun for the next CEO.
The Nomination Board, composed of the shareholders of Spinnova Plc, proposes to Spinnova’s Annual General Meeting on 5 May 2022 that Janne Poranen and Sari Pohjonen be appointed as new members of the Board of Directors.
Ilkka Kivimäki will leave his position as a member of the Board of Directors after the Annual General Meeting 2022. Spinnova’s co-founder Poranen will continue as CEO until a new CEO has been appointed and takes up their position. Spinnova’s Board of Directors has started their search for a new CEO.
“Our goal is to change the raw material base of the entire global textile sector for the better.”
Background
Spinnova’s Nomination Board believes that Spinnova’s Board of Directors and Management Team will be further strengthened by the nomination of Poranen and Pohjonen and the hiring of a new CEO. The company hopes to accelerate significant investment and to achieve its long-term objective of 1 million tonnes of annual SPINNOVA® fibre production capacity within 10-12 years.
Poranen to lead technology scaling and strategy
Janne Poranen, co-founder and CEO of Spinnova commented: “I am passionate about building Spinnova’s growth and realising our vision. Our goal is to change the raw material base of the entire global textile sector for the better.”
The Board of Directors has started the search for an experienced CEO, oriented towards international growth, who will continue to lead Spinnova’s growth and implement the company’s strategy together with the company’s co-founder, Juha Salmela, and with the rest of the management team.
Pohjonen to strengthen the board’s expertise
Sari Pohjonen is CFO of the Oriola Group and a member of the boards of the VR Group, Oilon group and Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation. Pohjonen has previously served as CFO and Vice President of both Fiskars Group and Reima. Sari Pohjonen’s appointment is planned to strengthen the Board’s expertise in the clothing and consumer products sector.
Timo Soininen, Chairman of the Nomination Board, comments:
“It is a natural step for Janne to become a member of Spinnova’s Board of Directors. In this role, he brings his considerable strategic and technology expertise to our board and further strengthens the expertise of Spinnova’s board of directors. At the same time, we are strengthening Spinnova’s management team with a new, growth-oriented CEO. Finally, I would like to thank Ilkka Kivimäki for his many years of vital, immeasurably valuable personal contribution and views to Spinnova’s growth as an investor and board member.”
