Martonen Ari

Ari Martonen has vast experience in executive management at fields of forest industries first as deputy to CFO at Schauman, then as CFO of forest industries at Rauma Repola. He was then working as VP of business development at Tampella and Solidium in the restructuring process. After a tenue as consultant mainly concentrating in turn around processes in recession era Finland he took a position as EVP/CFO of Metsä-Serla and later the CEO of Finnforest.

He is known to develop his companies very progressively. This has been part of larger restructuring process of forest industries and has resulted in hundreds of mergers and acquisitions.

As the CEO of Finnforest he took a group of 40 different companies and brands making heavy losses and turned it to one company and brand. Finnforest during his time developed to the only recognizable brand in wood products in Europe. He quadrupled the sales to 2 billion Euros in six years backed up by excellent financial results. This was done by cutting personnel by 20% and growth of production by 35% at the same time a global system of sales and customer services was developed changing dramatically the traditions of wood product industry.

He has also been working as Junior Minister of Foreign Trade and as member of executive committee of supervisory board of the state owned company Veitsiluoto giving an excellent insight in the government of Finland.
He has gained a Bachelors degree in Economics and Business administration from Helsinki School of Economics. He has participated in Rauma Repola management program and education in Treasury and Forex Management at Marine Midalnd Bank and Bank of America. Currently he is participating in VIA Groups Senior Leadership Academy.