Management Team

President and Chief Executive Officer

The President and Chief Executive Officer is appointed by the Board. The President and Chief Executive Officer acts also as the Group’s President and Chairman of the Executive Committee. The duties and responsibilities of the President and Chief Executive Officer are set forth in the Finnish Companies Act. The President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the operative management within scope of the strategic and operative plans, budgets and action plans approved by the Board. Unless separately authorized by the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer shall not take actions, which may be considered unusual or far-reaching in the view of the scope and nature of the Group’s business. The President and Chief Executive Officer shall ensure that the accounting of the company complies with the law and that the financial management of the corporation has been arranged in a reliable manner.

The President and Chief Executive Officer is entitled to represent the company in any matter within his/her authority. The President and Chief Executive Officer chairs the Global Management Team. The President and Chief Executive Officer’s service terms and conditions have been specified in writing in a service agreement approved by the Board.

The President and Chief Executive Officer and his/her deputy, are appointed by the Board of Directors.

Global Management Team of the Group

The Global Management Team assists the President and Chief Executive Officer in planning and managing the operations of the Group. The members of the Global Management Team report to the President and Chief Executive Officer. The Global Management Team convenes under the leadership of the President and Chief Executive Officer and is composed of different Global Management Team members depending on the matter at hand.

President and Chief Executive Officer acts as the Chairman of the Global Management Team.

Management team members

Lars Ollberg

President and CEO since 2023
Executive Committee member since 2023
Year of birth: 1956
Nationality: Finnish

Background add

Education:

Vocational Qualification in Business, Malmi Commercial School
CBM, Certified Board Member

Work experience:

Executive Committee member, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2008–2022
Corporate Chief operating officer, COO, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2017–2022
Corporation’s innovation operations, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2016–2020
Business management positions in Asia and various other product lines, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2008–2017
Sales Director and Marketing Director, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2003–2008
Sales and Marketing Manager, Rapala VMC Corporation, 1999–2003
Marketing Director, Normark Suomi Oy, 1995–1999
Sales and Marketing Manager, Rapala Normark Europe, 1992–1995
Marketing Manager, Rapala Oy, 1990–1992
Marketing Manager, Rapala Oy Matkaaja, 1988–1990
Plant manager, Rapire Ltd Ireland, 1985–1988

Shareholding:

Shareholding on December 31, 2023: -

Jean-Philippe Nicolle

Chief Operating Officer responsible for Business Performance, Finance Controlling and Internal Auditing, Europe focus
Executive Committee member since 2020
Year of birth: 1968
Nationality: French

Background add

Education:

Executive MBA
Business School ICS, Paris
Certified Public Accountant

Work experience:

Vice President, Central and Eastern European Distribution 2017–
Managing Director, Normark France 2007–2017
CFO, Normark France and VMC Pêche 1997–2007
Auditor, Touch Ross, Atis 1994–1997
CFO, Unicopa (Poultry division) 1993–1994

Shareholding:

Shareholding on December 31, 2023: 3,279

Miikka Tarna

CFO
Executive Committee member since 2024
Year of birth: 1983
Nationality: Finnish

Background add

Education:

M.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.), University of Oulu, 2008

Work experience:

Deputy CFO, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2023-2023
Director, Corporate Projects, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2021-2023
Head of APAC Distribution, Willtech PRC, 2017-2021
Business Development Controller, Rapala VMC Singapore, 2016-2017
Various Group Controlling positions, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2010-2016
Senior Associate, KPMG Oy Ab, 2008-2010

Tuomo Leino

Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary of the Board, Head of Sustainability
Executive Committee member since 2024
Year of birth: 1985
Nationality: Finnish

Background add

Education:

Master of Laws (LLM), University of Helsinki, 2013

Work experience:

General Counsel, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2023-
Group Legal Counsel, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2019-2023
Associate, Project Law Attorneys Ltd, 2012-2019

Confidential Posts and other:

Naval Academy reserve officer training program, 2005-2006

Cyrille Viellard

Deputy CEO, Executive Vice President and President, VMC Pêche
Executive Committee member since 2015
Year of birth: 1977
Nationality: French

Background add

Education:

MBA, ESSEC Graduate School of Management, Paris

Work experience:

President, VMC Pêche, 2020–
Market Intelligence and Business Development, Rapala VMC Corporation, 2014–2019
Group Logistics Director, Selectarc Welding & Brazing Group 2013–2014
Logistics Director, Bosch Group 2003–2013

Positions of trust and other:

Board Member, LISI Group, 2013–

Shareholding:

Shareholding on December 31, 2023: 26,625

Arto Nygren

Executive Vice President, Lure Manufacturing
Executive Committee Member since 2017
Year of birth: 1965
Nationality: Finnish

Background add

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Kotka Institute of Technology

Work experience:

Managing Director, Rapala Batam Indonesia, 2014–2016
Factory Manager, Rapala VMC Oyj, 2003–2014
Production Manager, Rapala VMC Oyj, 1999–2003
Factory Manager, Rapire Teo Ireland, 1997–1999
Manufacturing Manager, Rapala Oy, 1995–1997

Shareholding:

Shareholding on December 31, 2023: 36,540

Marcus Twidale

Executive Vice President, Head of Distribution in North America
Executive Committee member since 2021
Year of birth: 1965
Nationality: United Kingdom

Background add

Education:

Brooksby College of Agricultural Management

Work experience:

Head of Distribution in the UK 2010–
Dynamite Baits Ltd Co-Founder and MD 1998–2010
Agriculture and Forestry 1988–1998

Shareholding:

Shareholding on December 31, 2023: -

Tuomas Akkanen

Executive Vice President, Head of Group Supply Chain and Winter Sports
Executive Committee member since 2024
Year of birth: 1979
Nationality: Finnish

Background add

Education:

M.Sc. in Technology, Helsinki University of Technology

Work experience:

Vice President Group Supply Chain, Rapala VMC Oyj, 2020-2023
General Manager, Rapala Batam Indonesia, 2019 – 2020
Development Director, Rapala VMC Oyj 2018
Logistics Manager, Altia Oyj 2014-2018
Operations Development Manager, Altia Oyj 2010-2014
Operations Development Manager, Schneider Electric, 2007-2009
Development Engineer, SEW Industrial Gears Oy 2005-2007
Development Engineer, SEW Industrial Gears (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., 2003-2005