Head of Alma Consumer, Kari Kivelä and Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Virpi Juvonen will retire – Santtu Elsinen appointed new Head of Alma Consumer

Stock exchange release                        Changes in the management         4 April 2023 at 3.25 p.m.

HEAD OF ALMA CONSUMER, KARI KIVELÄ AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, VIRPI JUVONEN WILL RETIRE – SANTTU ELSINEN APPOINTED NEW HEAD OF ALMA CONSUMER 

Head of Alma Consumer business segment Mr. Kari Kivelä (63) has announced that he will retire from his current post by the end of 2023, as made possible by his executive contract. Kivelä started as the publisher and corresponding editor-in-chief of Alma Media's tabloid Iltalehti in 2005 and has held his current position since 2018.   

Mr. Santtu Elsinen (50) has been appointed Kivelä's successor. Elsinen has been Alma Media's Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and a member of the Group Executive Committee since 2016. Elsinen has served as a member of the Alma Consumer Business Segment Executive Team since 2018. In the past, Elsinen has been e.g, the Director of Business Development at Talentum Oyj and the Director of Business Development at Satama Interactive Oyj. 

Ms. Virpi Juvonen (60), Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Alma Media has also announced that she will retire by the end of 2023. Juvonen joined Iltalehti as HR Manager in 2007 and has held her current position since 2012.    

“I would like to convey my sincere gratitude and thanks to both Kari and Virpi for their excellent contributions towards Alma Media's success. Virpi's role in developing the company's staff and promoting competence building, job satisfaction and well-being amid the significant changes undergone by the company has been pivotal. At Alma Media, the quality of working life and the willingness of Alma Medians to recommend their employer is at the highest level in our measurement history. Kari has played a significant role in implementing our digital transformation strategy, developing our multi-channel consumer media and marketplace business into leading services in Finland,” says Kai Telanne, CEO of Alma Media and continues:   

“At the same time, I am delighted that we will have Santtu Elsinen to lead our Alma Consumer segment towards the next level. Santtu has strong technology expertise and a good knowledge of our company's digital growth strategy, where Alma Consumer plays a significant role”.   

“Alma Media has provided me with a diverse and interesting path of development for nearly two decades. I have had the opportunity to participate in the process of transforming the company from a print-driven media house into a fully-fledged digital media and service business powerhouse. The acquisitions of recent years have now been successfully integrated into Alma Consumer. With gratitude to all my colleagues and with full confidence, I leave the responsibility to my successor”, says Kari Kivelä, Business Director of Alma Consumer.  

“I am grateful for Alma Media for being such a good employer. I also want to express my particular thanks to our knowledgeable staff for the 16 years that I have worked for the company. Without our motivated professionals, Alma Media's transformation would not have been possible. Now is a suitable time to move on to the next stage of my life”, says Virpi Juvonen.  

Alma Media has launched a search for successors of Juvonen and Elsinen. Elsinen will start in his new role when Kivelä retires. The position of Alma Media’s Senior Vice President, Human Resources will be filled by the retirement date. 

Alma Media Corporation 
Elina Kukkonen, Senior Vice President, Communications and Brand, tel. + 358 10 665 2333 

More information: 

Kai Telanne, President and CEO, telephone +358 10 665 3500  

Alma Media in brief

Alma Media is an international company of digital media, marketplaces and services with a strong capacity for renewal. We inspire human curiosity and choice by creating services that combine technology and content with a local heart. In Finland, our best-known brands include Kauppalehti, Talouselämä, Iltalehti, Etuovi.com, Nettiauto and Nettimoto. Our recruitment services include prace.cz and jobs.cz in the Czech Republic, Profesia.sk in Slovakia and mojposao.net in Croatia.

In Finland, our business operations include leading housing and automotive marketplaces, financial and professional media, national consumer media and content and data services for businesses and professionals. Alma Media’s international business in Eastern Central Europe, Sweden and the Baltic countries consists of recruitment services and an online marketplace for commercial properties.

Alma Media operates in 11 countries in Europe and employs approximately 1,700 professionals. Alma Media’s revenue from continuing operations was EUR 309 million in 2022 of which the share of digital business was 81%. Alma Media’s share is listed on NASDAQ Helsinki. Read more at www.almamedia.fi/en/.

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