Mika Kekki

I represent UPM Corporation in the board of East Office of Finnish Industries Oy

Appointment release in May: Winfried Schaur appointed as Executive Vice President, Technology and Mika Kekki as Executive Vice President, UPM Plywood Winfried Schaur has been appointed as Executive Vice President, Technology and Mika Kekki as Executive Vice President, UPM Plywood as of October 1, 2021. Both will be members of UPM’s Group Executive Team and report to Jussi Pesonen, President and CEO. They will succeed Jyrki Ovaska and Mika Sillanpää who both will retire at the age of 63 at the end of 2021. Winfried Schaur is currently the Executive Vice President, UPM Communication Papers and member of the Executive Team. He has held several senior positions in UPM’s paper business since 2001. Mika Kekki is currently the Vice President, Production & Operations, responsible for UPM’s eight plywood mills and production related support functions. He has held several management positions in UPM and preceding companies since 1994. “While I wish the best of success both to Winfried and Mika in their new roles, I would like to thank warmly both Jyrki and Mika for the successful careers both have had for almost 40 years in UPM and in the predecessor companies. Both have a strong business background and have been ready to renew with courage and take on new kinds of responsibilities. Both have also been able to empower and set an excellent example to new generation of UPMers,” says Jussi Pesonen, President & CEO of UPM. Recruitment to positions which have now become vacant in UPM Communications Papers and UPM Plywood will start immediately.

I'm responsible in UPM Plywood both plywood and veneer production in all of our 8 mills. From those 6 are located in Finland, 1 in Russia and 1 in Estonia. In addition to that, I have an overall responsibility for all of our 8 mill's Operations in Maintenance, Wood Flow Management, OHS, Production Development & Investments, Energy, Quality, Environment and partly Sourcing operations. Combined turnover in mills & operations is roughly 485 M€/annum. I'm direct Manager to 15 professionals in above mentioned areas, secondary effect to about > 2300 employees in our organization. In addition I am Chairman of the Board JSV (Lake Finnish Power) energy company; which is operating to big CHP's in Savonlinna and Mikkeli. That company is owned partly by UPM Plywood and SSS (Great Savo's Power).

I'm responsible for our Spruce Plywood (Pellos Mills) and Veneer production (Kalso Mill). In addition to that, I have an overall responsibility for all of our 9 Mill's Operations in Maintenance, Wood Flow Management, OHS, Production Development, Energy, Quality, Environment and partly PLY purchases. Combined turnover (Mills & operations) roughly 300 M€/annum. Direct "Team leader or foreman" to 16 persons, undirect effect to about > 1000 people.

In addition to my Mill Manager role, I was working in a dual role. I had a technical development responsibility in all Distribution business unit mills, meaning the Chudovo and Pellos Mills. Those were the biggest mills in UPM Kymmene Wood Oy and I was reporting to Head of DBU.

UPM Pellos Plywood Mills (Pellos1,2,3). 650 employees, in Ristiina municipality, in south-east part of Finland

UPM Pellos Plywood Mills 2 and 3

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