Forestry technology company Kesla Plc is renewing its operating model and management team as part of the systematic implementation of its growth strategy. The changes will take effect on March 17, 2025. These changes will not impact the structure of Kesla’s financial reporting.
To achieve the goals set for the 2024–2028 strategic period, Kesla has identified three key themes: bold renewal, profitable growth, and succeeding together. The renewal of the operating model and management team ties these themes together.
In the new organization, the previous business unit structure will be changed, and tractor equipment, logging equipment, truck and stationary cranes, and defence products will be referred to as product groups. Front line functions—sales, product management, marketing, and after sales services—will be combined into a new Sales and Customer Care organization. A Sales and Customer Care Director will be appointed to lead this new organization, and the recruitment process is underway. Until the position is filled, CEO Pasi Nieminen will take on the role alongside his existing duties.
The Kesla Defence product group, established in January 2025, will retain separate sales and product management functions due to the specific characteristics of the defense industry market. Mr. Tapio Pirinen will continue to lead sales for the product group and, as part of the organizational reform, will also take on responsibility for the company's PMO (Project Management Office) functions.
CEO Pasi Nieminen comments on the changes: "At the core of our strategy is enhancing the customer experience. By reorganizing our front line functions, we improve our customer processes and can offer better service and faster responses to market needs. Merging sales and after sales organizations allows us to allocate resources more evenly, flexibly, and efficiently across selected market areas to support growth. Strong product management, in turn, plays a key role in building a product strategy that aligns with our strategic objectives in key markets. All these actions support the most important goal of our strategy: profitable growth."
This transformation is a significant step in Kesla’s organizational development, following the earlier dismantling of business unit specific product development and production responsibilities. Product development, product management, digitalization, Kesla Defence, and PMO will now be included in the management team, as they are critical functions in achieving Kesla’s strategic goals.
Mr. Jukka Sadinmäki will continue as Head of Product Development. Mr. Mika Tahvanainen, previously Business Line Director of Logging Equipment, has been appointed Director of Product Management and Digitalization. Mr. Ari Pirhonen, formerly Business Line Director of Truck and Stationary Cranes, has been appointed Sales Director of Cranes for the Finnish market, which is a significant market for Kesla.
The reorganization was carried out as a change negotiation process, but no staff reductions resulted from it.
Kesla's Management Team as of March 17, 2025:
• Pasi Nieminen, CEO & Acting Sales and Customer Care Director
• Ilkka Miettinen, CFO (Finance, Administration, ICT, and HR)
• Mika Tahvanainen, Director – Product Management and Digitalization
• Jukka Sadinmäki, Head of Product Development
• Jari Jormanainen, Supply Chain Director (Manufacturing, Quality, and Procurement)
• Tapio Pirinen, Director – PMO and Kesla Defence
KESLA Plc
CEO Pasi Nieminen
For further information:
CEO Pasi Nieminen
Phone: +358 40 901 4401
(Available on March 4 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM and via email at pasi.nieminen[at]kesla.com)
Image requests by email to: viola.karhapaa[at]kesla.com
Kesla – Your Responsible Partner
Kesla is a responsible partner developing machinery, technology, and services for sustainable success in forestry and beyond. Kesla’s products and services are divided into four product groups: Tractor Equipment, Logging Equipment, Truck and Stationary Cranes and Kesla Defence The company had a turnover of €44.3 million in 2024, with 53% of revenue coming from exports. Founded in 1960, Kesla operates manufacturing plants in Joensuu, Kesälahti, and Ilomantsi in Finland and has a sales subsidiary in Appenweier, Germany. The company employs approximately 220 people, and its A-shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.