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the StArt of A NeW chAPter
hans sohlstrÖm
cv
hANS MikAel SohlStrÖM:
Married father of two daughters (15 and 21 years old)
Born
education
Functon
Jakobstad (1964), finland
- Master of Science (technology), corporate Strategy
and international Marketing - helsinki university
of technology
- Master of Science (economics), corporate finance and
Business Administration - Swedish School of economics
and Business Administration in helsinki
President and ceo of rettig Group
Background
hans Sohlström graduated in 1989 not only as a Master of Science in
technology at the technical university of helsinki, but also as a Master of
economics at the Swedish School of economics and Business Administration
in helsinki. While still studying, in 1988, he began working at kymmene
corporation, a large finnish multinational which specialises in pulp, paper
and timber. this was the start of a promising career with lots of different
jobs and responsibilities within the group, not just in finland, but also
abroad in Germany and france. When, in 1996, kymmene corporation
merged with repola ltd and united Paper Mills ltd, the world became even
bigger for hans Sohlström. Within the uPM-kymmene corporation hans
flourished. his career brought him new responsibilities, with opportunities
to develop and grow new businesses. his success didn’t go unnoticed. in
2002 he was appointed as Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing of the
uPM Magazine Paper Division and only two years later – in 2004 – he joined
the uPM Group executive team as executive Vice President. Advancing
from his initial focus on paper, he was now involved in all three different
business areas of the group: energy & Pulp, Paper and engineered Materials.
in this position he strengthened his corporate strategy, management, sales,
business development and leadership skills. his impressive career and broad
experience led rettig to invite hans Sohlström for an interview in early 2012.
suppliers, but also our own employees, and
– to tomasz tarabura and his team. of course
to lead the rettig Group; to create
responsibility is to meet and exceed the
After a career of 24 years at uPM-kymmene corporation, hans Sohlström
at Group level with investors and banks.’
i am willing to give my opinion on matters,
environments in which people have the
standards set for and by you. this, in my case,
joined the rettig Group in August 2012 as President and ceo.
you can only succeed as part oF
a successFul team
but first i want to know from them what
their own thoughts and ideas are to solve a
particular problem or in taking a strategic
possibility to succeed and to be successful.
You could say that it’s my task to create the
necessary circumstances to be successful,
also includes our core values, which, as i said
before, i recognise and take to my heart,’ says
hans. ‘i believe in openness and fairness.
‘As a ceo of the Group it’s not my task to
decision. it’s not that i am not an expert in
and when my direct involvement is needed
And of course trust. Without trust nothing is
interfere or to be involved in responsibilities
their field of business, it’s more that i want
in any situation, i am there.”
possible. And to show people that you can be
that have been given to the different
to get the very best from them, to foster an
trusted, you must begin by trusting others.
business areas. in the case of rettig icc this
environment of trust in their opinions, and
Barely 6 months into his new role, and
for that reason i believe in the strength of
means that the responsibility is in the hands
i trust these people as no other. they are
indeed three entirely different industries,
team play. let’s use a simple analogy. See a
of Neil Macpherson or further down – when
professionals with lots of experience and
hans exudes confidence and energy talking
company as a football team, where you all
we look at the brands Purmo radson and lVi
proven track records. it’s my responsibility
about rettig Group. “As a leader your prime
have different positions and tasks, but a >>
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