Sanoma Corporation, Stock Exchange Release, 16 December 2013 at 10:00 CET+1

Sanoma has announced the resignation of Aimé Van Hecke as CEO of Sanoma Media Belgium and his departure from Sanoma. Van Hecke was appointed as CEO of Sanoma’s Belgian media operations in 2006. From today onwards, Sanoma Media Belgium will be led by new CEO Hans Cools, formerly Chief Operations Officer (COO).

This decision was made after careful consideration and in good mutual understanding. Sanoma Media Belgium is under strategic review to assess the best options to develop its position in the Belgian media landscape, either with Sanoma or with other (co-)owners. Sanoma and Van Hecke agree that this requires a different kind of leadership.

Sanoma’s President & CEO Harri-Pekka Kaukonen comments: “We are glad that our experienced Belgian management team will lead the company through this transitional phase. We have asked Hans Cools, our valued Chief Operations Officer, to step up as CEO. He will focus on managing the business as usual, securing a solid business performance as the strategic review process continues to proceed. We thank Aimé Van Hecke and wish him the best of luck outside of Sanoma.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity I had to transform Sanoma Media Belgium into a true multimedia organisation in the last seven years," says Aime Van Hecke. "The company is now entering a transition phase with a strategic review that requires different top management skills. I wish new CEO Hans Cools and all Belgian Sanoma employees all the best.”

Additional information
Sanoma’s Investor Relations, Olli Turunen, tel. +358 40 552 8907 or ir@sanoma.com

For media inquiries
Sanoma’s Group Communications, Robin Janszen, tel. +31 6 2293 2643 or communications@sanoma.com

For media inquiries in Finland
Sanoma’s Group Communications, Hanna Johde, tel. +358 40 673 8977 or hanna.johde@sanoma.com

Sanoma.com

Get the world. Sanoma helps people access and understand the world. Sanoma is a front runner in consumer media and learning in Europe. We employ around 10,000 professionals in more than 10 countries. In 2012, the Group’s net sales totalled EUR 2.4 billion. Sanoma’s share is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.