The SanomaWSOY Group's organisational structure was reorganised as the Group made changes in the organisation of its educational and book publishing. The new SanomaWSOY Education and Books Division comprises of three main businesses: SanomaWSOY Education, WSOY General Literature, and WSOYpro.
SanomaWSOY Education and Books Division will be headed by Jacques Eijkens, 50, CEO of SanomaWSOY Education and Veli-Pekka Elonen, 41, President of WSOY, as his deputy. As communicated on June 21, 2006, Veli-Pekka Elonen will as of October 1, 2006 be also the President of WSOY.
– I see the new Division as a practical expression of our current strategy, Veli-Pekka Elonen says.
– Division as such has not changed but this new organisational structure confirms the importance of the educational business as well as makes it more visible in our divisional name, Jacques Eijkens comments.
– We have three important main businesses that all require strong leadership. Now we have a better opportunity to concentrate on each business and fulfil the needs of our customers in each market, Elonen continues.
Power to businesses
SanomaWSOY Education business focuses on educational publishing internationally. Educational publishing is also one of the SanomaWSOY Group's international areas. At the moment, SanomaWSOY Education has operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, and Poland.
– The internationalisation of our educational business has been strong in recent times and I believe that we are growing even more international in the future, Eijkens says.
The Division's other, Finnish based operations, WSOY General Literature is the leading general literature publisher and WSOYpro provides a range of training, competence and communications solutions for enterprises. – In Finland the WSOY brand will stay strong and it will be systematically developed further, Elonen says.
– The competitive situation in all our businesses is challenging. The new organisational structure improves our possibilities to succeed in all our businesses. Our goal is to be the market leader in all our key businesses and markets, Eijkens continues.
The Division will have two business driven management teams: Jacques Eijkens heads the one concentrating on educational publishing business and Veli-Pekka Elonen leads the management team responsible for WSOY businesses.
– Each management team can concentrate on specific businesses which also improves the efficiency, Elonen describes.
On top of the management teams, a small divisonal team will be responsible for formal decision making within the Division as well as for reviewing and monitoring the overall strategy.
Close cooperation
Both men are determined that the new structure will support the growth ambition. – It also supports the need for excellence in our business, Eijkens says.
– The organisational structure shows clearly that we are ready to think and make the decisions in new ways. It also brings new operational effectiveness to our businesses, Elonen describes.
Cooperation between two men seems easy and the conversation is full of enthusiasm. – The operational models we have created and the strategic themes we have concluded during the past summer and this autumn feel really practical and efficient, Elonen describes. – I'm really looking forward to our joint co-operation, Eijkens continues.
Future opportunities
– I strongly believe that our Division will grow and become more international division in the years to come, Elonen says. – The changes in consumer behaviour and attitudes as well as the changing operational environment are challenging, but we want to be the leading forerunners also in the future.
– I believe that in the future, internet as well as other electronic solutions play a more important role in our business, Eijkens describes. – We are also constantly looking for new business opportunities in all businesses that support our core businesses, he concludes.