Company management

President and CEO

Kesko has a managing director who is the President and CEO. Kesko's President and CEO is Mikko Helander, Master of Science in Technology. He became Kesko's President and CEO on 1 January 2015.

The President and CEO's duty is to manage Kesko Group's operations in accordance with the instructions and orders issued by the Company's Board of Directors and to report to the Board developments in the Company's business operations and financial situation. He is also responsible for organising  the Company's day-to-day governance and for the company's accounting complying with legislation and financial matters being organised in a reliable manner. The President and CEO also chairs the Group Management Board. 

The President and CEO is elected by the Board of Directors. The Board has decided the terms and conditions of the President and CEO's service contract. A written managing director's service contract, approved by the Board, has been made between the Company and the President and CEO.

Group Management board

Kesko Group has a Group Management Board, the Chair of which is Kesko's President and CEO.

Group Management Board members and areas of responsibility areas at 1 June 2023

  Since Responsibility area
Mikko Helander, President and CEO* 1 Oct. 2014  Kesko's President and CEO
Jorma Rauhala, President of the building and technical trade division, deputy CEO 5 Feb. 2013 Building and technical trade
Ari Akseli, President of the grocery trade division 15 Nov. 2017 Grocery trade
Sami Kiiski, President of the car trade division, head of Kesko’s sports trade, CEO of Intersport Finland Oy 1 June 2023 Car trade
Jukka Erlund, Executive Vice President, CFO 1 Nov. 2011 Finance and Accounting, IT, Risk Management, M&A
Riikka Joukio, Executive Vice President 12 Apr. 2021 Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs
Matti Mettälä, Executive Vice President  1 Oct. 2012  Human Resources
Karoliina Partanen, Executive Vice President, Communications 1 Oct. 2020 Communications, Brand and Stakeholder Relations
     

Matti Virtanen was a member of the Group Management Board until 31 May 2023.

* Helander became Kesko's Executive Vice President and Group Management Board member on 1 October 2014. As from 1 January 2015, he is Kesko's President and CEO and Chairman of the Group Management Board.

The Group Management Board does not have any powers under law or the Articles of Association. The Group Management Board's duty is to discuss Group-wide development projects and Group-level policies and procedures. In addition, the Group Management Board discusses the Group's and the division parent companies' business plans, profit performance and matters dealt with by Kesko's Board of Directors, in whose preparation it also participates. The Group Management Board typically meets 14–18 times a year.

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