Jukka Härmälä (b. 1946) is one of the most influential persons of the Finnish economy. Mr Härmälä retired from his position as CEO of Stora Enso at the end of March 2007, having held the post since 1998. He commenced his career in the forest industry at Enso-Gutzeit where between 1970 and 1984 he was employed, among others, as finance director and director of the timber business. From 1984 to 1988 Mr Härmälä was a member of the board of management of Kansallis-Osake-Pankki, a predecessor of Nordea Bank, and he was also the first Chairman of the Board of the newly established CapMan in the late 1980s. Mr Härmälä returned to Enso in 1988, when he was nominated as President and CEO, and he played a major role in the 1998 merger of Finnish Enso and Swedish Stora into Stora Enso Oyj.
”I am delighted to welcome Jukka to the CapMan Nordic Advisor Network. During his career he has completed numerous M&A and been active as a business leader also outside of his own employer. We value Jukka’s vast experience in Nordic industry and proactive Board work, and we await his contribution to CapMan’s investment operations with enthusiasm,” says Heikki Westerlund, CEO of CapMan Plc.
”Private equity was still an emerging asset class in Finland when I was on CapMan’s Board of Directors in the 1980s. Its importance has grown over the years, and private equity investors today are involved in structural changes and M&A in all sectors of business. I have followed the private equity investment industry very closely and I await my upcoming partnership and participation in CapMan’s investment operations with great interest,” Jukka Härmälä says.
Mr Härmälä graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Helsinki School of Economics in 1969 and he holds honorary doctorate degrees in Engineering and Economics from Lappeenranta University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics and Helsinki University of Technology. Mr Härmälä is a member of several Boards of Directors and he is also active in trade and industry interest groups.
For further information, please contact:
Heikki Westerlund, CEO, tel. +358 9 6155 8304 or +358 50 559 6580
Jukka Härmälä, Senior Advisor, CapMan, tel. +358 20 462 1404 or +44 207 016 3110