Fastmarkets RISI, the main organisation for price reporting, analyses and events for the global markets of metals, industrial minerals and forest products, has announced that Jussi Pesonen, president and CEO of UPM has been nominated European CEO of 2019. The European CEO of the Year Award was presided over by a group of investment analysts, consultants in the sector and commentators who study the European and world industry of cellulose and paper. The reasons which enabled Jussi Pesonen to win the award are linked to his efforts in transforming UPM into a company focused mainly on paper manufacture, but able to extend its scope in the paper and cellulose market. «Implementing such a long-term project, with such a clear mindset», explain the judges, «is admirable, and for this reason Pesonen should be seen as a sector leader from whom others can learn».
Also taken into account was the fact that Pesonen managed to supply shareholders with stable yields in a volatile market.
Jussi Pesonen was appointed President and CEO of UPM-Kymmene Corporation in 2004. Under his guidance, the Finnish company of forest products has increased its operating efficiency and has extended its investment in the paper and cellulose market outside Europe, notably in the emerging Asiatic and Latin American markets.
In addition, UPM has invested in renewable and responsible products for environmental protection, evolving into The Biofore Company through the manufacture of products such as renewable biofuels and plastic composites in wood. UPM’s growing business is currently focused on high value fibre, its special packaging materials and its molecular bio-based products.
Under the guidance of Jussi Pesonen, UPM has been included, for the sixth time, in the forest and paper industry leaders in the Dow Jones European and World Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for 2018-2019. Recently, UPM was included by the Canadian company, Corporate Knights, in the Paper and Forest Products category in the list of the 100 most sustainable companies.