Arja Talma was named the CFO of the Year
Talouselämä magazine and Accenture have named Kesko's Arja Talma, Senior Vice President, CFO, the CFO of the Year 2010.
According to the jury, Arja Talma's central role as a supporter of Kesko's operating activities, a partner and a leader of various development projects were among the decisive factors.
The jury highlighted Talma's business competence, exceptionally extensive portfolio of responsibilities and especially her central role in leading Kesko's strategy work.
Arja Talma has successfully implemented major development projects related to financial management and she has strongly urged the adoption of uniform operating practices and systems in all areas of the Group's financial management. According to the jury, the basic finance and accounting functions and the present status of financial management in Kesko are clearly at a higher than average level.
The whole finance and accounting organisation deserve the thanks
‑ The title I was awarded belongs to the whole of Kesko's finance and accounting organisation. In recent years, we have achieved much be proud of. Now we face new challenges and the work continues, says Arja Talma.
‑ I'm grateful to be able to work with a top-notch team. When choosing new team members I always look for the right attitude. In general, it is well-advised to choose people who are smarter than yourself and give them space to grow and develop.
Arja Talma, Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration, eMBA, was born in 1962. She joined Kesko in 2004, held the position of Vice President, Corporate Controller in 2004-2005, and has been CFO since 17 March 2005. Arja Talma is a member of Kesko's Corporate Management Board and a member of the Board of Kesko Food Ltd, Rautakesko Ltd and Konekesko Ltd.
Comparison between Finland's biggest companies
The recognition of the CFO of the Year is based on comprehensive and diverse analyses of Finland's biggest companies in terms of net sales. Other CFOs' evaluations of the role, organisation, processes and operating practices of the company's CFO and financial management also affect the recognition.
The members of the jury were Georg Ehrnrooth, Onninen Oy’s Chair of the Board Maarit Toivanen-Koivisto, Talouselämä magazine's Editor-in-Chief Reijo Ruokanen, Wärtsilä's Group Vice President, CFO Raimo Lind, and Accenture’s Country Managing Director for Finland Frank Korsström.