Metsä Board Corporation has announced that Ilkka Hämälä, Chair of the Board of Directors, will step down from his position effective July 1, 2025. Hämälä, who has served as Chair of the Board and President and CEO of Metsä Group since 2018, has played a key role in strengthening the company’s position as Europe’s leading producer of fresh fibre paperboard and as a pioneer in sustainability.
The Board of Directors has expressed its gratitude to Hämälä for his significant contributions to the company’s development and performance.
In line with the transition, the Board has elected Jussi Vanhanen as the new Chair of the Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2025. Vanhanen, who will also assume the role of President and CEO of Metsä Group on the same date, has been a member of Metsä Board’s Board of Directors since March 2025. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Metsäliitto Cooperative from 2022 to 2025 and has held the position of CEO of Metsäliitto Cooperative since May 1, 2025.
Vanhanen will also take over as Chair of the nomination and HR committee, succeeding Hämälä. Jussi Linnanranta will continue in his role as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.
Following Hämälä’s resignation, Metsä Board’s Board of Directors will consist of nine members, in accordance with the Company’s articles of association. As such, there is no need to appoint additional members at this time.