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Outokumpu Renews Leadership Team to Accelerate Strategy Execution

06/17/2013 - Outokumpu announced changes in its leadership team in order to further accelerate the production optimization and capacity reductions.

Outokumpu announced changes in its leadership team in order to further accelerate the production optimization and capacity reductions. Jarmo Tonteri will lead the Stainless Coil EMEA as well as the High Performance Stainless and Alloys business areas. This will enable the company to tap into additional synergy opportunities between these business areas. The company has agreed with Ulrich Albrecht-Früh, the current head of business area Stainless Coil EMEA, that he will leave Outokumpu to pursue other career opportunities outside the company.
Mika Seitovirta, Outokumpu CEO said, “In the current market environment we see a need for further acceleration of Outokumpu’s production optimization. We will therefore place our European production units under the leadership of Jarmo Tonteri. During the past two years Jarmo has delivered excellent results in restructuring Outokumpu’s specialty stainless operations back to the path of profitability. I trust that his 35 years’ experience and focus will accelerate the transformation and turn-around of Outokumpu.” 
As part of these changes Outokumpu will conduct a strategic review of its cold rolling and precision strip operations in Nyby and Kloster, Sweden and in Dahlerbrück, Germany with the aim of reducing production capacity and achieving further cost savings through increased efficiencies. Decisions based on the strategic review are expected to be made by the end of 2013.
Outokumpu’s segment reporting continues as before with four business areas with sales, production, supply chain and profit responsibility:
•   Stainless Coil EMEA
•   Stainless Coil Americas
•   Stainless APAC
•   High Performance Stainless and Alloys
Jarmo Tonteri will assume his new position as the head of Stainless Coil EMEA as of today.
Pekka Erkkilä joins Outokumpu as Chief Technology Officer
Outokumpu has appointed Pekka Erkkilä as Executive vice president, chief technology officer and a member of the Outokumpu Leadership Team. He will start at Outokumpu on 1 September 2013 and report to CEO Mika Seitovirta.
Erkkilä will be responsible for Outokumpu’s global production and technology strategy and capital investments optimization. In addition, he will be responsible for company’s global research and development strategy as well as company’s sustainability activities. He will be based in Outokumpu head office in Espoo, Finland.
Erkkilä has more than 30 years of experience in stainless steel and mining industries and he has formerly been employed by Outokumpu during 1983–2010. He returns to Outokumpu from Outotec, a leading technology provider for metals and mining industries where he currently holds the position of executive vice president of Ferrous Solutions business area.
Mika Seitovirta commented, “I’m very excited to have Pekka Erkkilä join the Outokumpu team. His vast experience and knowledge of the industry will be extremely valuable as we develop the optimal production and technology strategies for Outokumpu for the coming years.”
Pekka Erkkilä said, “Outokumpu is a Finnish industry icon and I’m very happy to re-join the company to contribute to its success. Outokumpu’s new position as the global market leader in stainless steel offers us great opportunities to develop the business further and add value to our customers.”