Board of Directors

Sanoma's Board of Directors consists of five to eleven members elected by the General Meeting. The General Meeting also elects the Chair and the Vice Chair of the Board. The term of a member of the Board begins at the end of the AGM in which he or she has been elected and expires at the end of the AGM following the election.
Pekka Ala-Pietilä
Pekka Ala-Pietilä
Chair
Klaus Cawén
Klaus Cawén
Vice Chair
Julian Drinkall
Julian Drinkall

Born 1957, Finnish citizen

Chair of the Board of Sanoma since 2016
Sanoma Board member since 2014, term ends in 2026

Chair of the Executive Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: M.Sc. (Econ.), D.Sc. (Tech.) h.c., D.Sc. (Econ.) h.c.

Primary work experience: Blyk Services Oy, co-founder and CEO 2006–2012; Nokia Corporation, various positions 1984–2005, e.g. President 1999–2005, Nokia Mobile Phones, President, 1992–1998 and Group Executive Board Member 1992–2005

Key board memberships:  SAP (Chair, Supervisory Board); Here Technologies (HERE Global B.V.) (Chair, Supervisory Board)

Born 1957, Finnish citizen

Vice Chair of the Board of Sanoma since 2024
Sanoma Board member since 2024, term ends in 2026

Member of the Audit Committee and the Executive Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: LL.M.

Main occupation:  Kone Corporation, Executive Advisor, 2021−

Primary work experience: Kone Corporation, various positions 1983-  e.g. EVP and Executive Board Member 1991–2021; EVP, Mergers and Acquisitions, Strategic Alliances, Russia and Legal 2006–2021; EVP, Legal, Acquisitions & Toshiba Alliance 2000–2005; EVP, General Counsel and Acquisitions, 1991–2000

Key board memberships: Metso Corporation, Vice Chair; A. Ahlström Corporation, Vice Chair,; Toshiba Elevator & Building Systems Corporation, Member

Other positions of trust: DevCo Partners Ltd, Senior Advisor

Born 1964, British citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2020, term ends in 2026

Chair of the Human Resources Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: Master (Public Administration), Master (Business Administration) and M.A. (PPE)

Main occupation:  GLF Schools, CEO

Primary work experience: Aga Khan Schools, General Manager 2021–2022, Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), CEO 2016–2021; Alpha Plus Holding, CEO 2014–2016; Cengage Learning, President and CEO of EMEA and India 2012–2014; OC&C Strategy Consultants, Operating Partner 2010–2012; Macmillan Education, CEO 2007–2010 and Chief Operating Officer 2006–2007; Boots Company, Director of Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions 2003–2005; IPC Media, Group Strategy Director 2001–2003; BBC, Head of Financial and Commercial Strategy 1998– 2001; previous employers also include Arthur D. Little, Island International (Island Records) and the LEK Partnership

Key board memberships:  Atypical AI Corp 

Rolf Grisebach
Rolf Grisebach
Anna Herlin
Anna Herlin
Sebastian Langenskiöld
Sebastian Langenskiöld

Born 1961, German citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2020, term ends in 2026

Chair of the Audit Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: Ph.D. (Business Law), Master (Business and Law)

Main occupation: Future Group, CEO (DACH); Stella Partners, Partner

Primary work experience: Thames & Hudson Ltd (London), CEO 2013–2019; Pearson, President of German, Swiss and Austrian operations 2010–2013; Deutscher Fachverlag (DFV), CEO 2005– 2010; Holtzbrinck Group, Member of the Executive Board 2001–2004, Business CEO for Education, STM and digital division (New York) 1998–2001, Vice President Corporate Development 1995–1998; Boston Consulting Group (Munich and London), Manager 1988–1995

Key board memberships: DeutschAkademie Weiterbildungs GmbH (Chair)

Born 1982, Finnish citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2021, term ends in 2026

Member of the Human Resources Committee
Independent of the company
Non-independent of major shareholders as has an employment relationship and is a board member in a company, Security Trading Oy, who exercises indirect control in a significant shareholder (Holding Manutas Oy)

Education: : Master (Social Sciences) and M.A.

Main occupation: Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation, Head of Development

Primary work experience: John Nurminen Foundation, Project Manager 2013–2018; Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Planning Officer 2008–2009

Key board memberships: Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation; Security Trading Oy (Vice Chair)

Born 1982, Finnish citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2019, term ends in 2026

Member of the Audit Committee and Human Resources Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: M.Sc. (International Business) and Master (International Management)

Main occupation: In Parallel Oy, Head of Partnerships

Primary work experience: Salesforce, EMEA ISV GTM Principal Partner Account Manager 2017–2023; Fingertip Ltd., Founding Partner 2012–2017; Cargotec Corporation, M&A Coordinator 2011; Hansaprint Ltd., Key Account Manager 2006–2009

Eugenie van Wiechen
Eugenie van Wiechen
Jannica Fagerholm
Jannica Fagerholm
Timo Lappalainen
Timo Lappalainen

Born 1969, Dutch citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2023, term ends in 2026

Member of the Audit Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: MBA, M.Sc. (drs. Chemical Engineering)

Main occupation: FD Mediagroep, CEO and Publishing Director 

Primary work experience: LinkedIn Corporation, Managing Director, the Netherlands 2009–2011; eBay, Managing Director, Marktplaats, 2008–2009; Sanoma Uitgevers B.V. various positions 2003–2008, e.g. Publisher 2003–2008; McKinsey & Company, various positions 1995–2003, e.g. Engagement Manager 1999–2003 

Key board memberships: Artis (Supervisory Board)

Born 1961, Finnish citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2025, term ends in 2026

Member of the Audit Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: M.Sc. (Economics), Hanken School of Economics,
Helsinki, Finland 1987

Main occupation:  Managing Director, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg
Foundation 2010−

Primary work experience: SEB Gyllenberg Private Bank, Managing Director 2006–2010, Gyllenberg Private Bank, Managing Director 2001–2006; Gyllenberg Wealth Management, Director, Private Clients 1999–2001. Prior to SEB Gyllenberg, several leadership positions in Handelsbanken, Finland 1998–1999 and Sampo Group 1990–1998

Key board memberships: Mandatum Plc, Vice Chair and Chair of the Remuneration Committee 2023–; Solidium Oy, member 2019–; Kesko Corporation, member and Chair of the Audit Committee 2016–

Born 1962, Finnish citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2025, term ends in 2026

Member of the Human Resources Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: M.Sc. (Industrial engineering and management),
Helsinki University of Technology, Finland 1987

Primary work experience: Several leadership positions at Orion Corporation as of 1999 incl. President & CEO 2008–2022; Senior Vice President, Proprietary Products and Animal Health 2005–2007 and member of the Group management team 2006–2007; Orion Pharma, Executive Vice President 2003–2005 and Senior Vice President, Business Development 1999–2005. Prior to Orion, several leadership positions at Leiras Ltd. 1994–1999 and Finvest Ltd. 1989–1993 and as a consultant at Arthur Andersen & Co in Chicago, USA 1987–1988.

Key board memberships and positions of trust: Professor of Practise, Pharmaceutical Industry, University of Turku, 2024–; The Finnish Fair Foundation, Chair 2023–; Kemira Oyj, member 2014–; Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, member 2010– 

Executive Management Team

The Executive Management Team (EMT) supports the President and CEO in his or her duties in co-ordinating the Group’s management and preparing matters to be discussed at Board meetings.
Rob Kolkman
Rob Kolkman
President and CEO
Alex Green
Alex Green
CFO
Pia Kalsta
Pia Kalsta
CEO, Sanoma Media Finland

Born 1972, Dutch citizen

President and CEO
Chair of the EMT since 2024, member since 2019
Member of the Executive Committee

Education: MBA, Master (Econ., Accountancy)

Work experience: Sanoma Group: CEO Sanoma Learning 2020–2023, CEO Sanoma Media Netherlands 2019; Reed Business Information (part of RELX Group): Group Managing Director 2017–2018, Managing Director of ICIS 2016–2017, CEO Netherlands 2014–2016; Elsevier (part of RELX): Managing Director Australia and New Zealand 2008–2014; Reed Business Netherlands (part of RELX): Associate Director 2006-2008, Publishing Director (Finance and tax) 2004–2006 and Director of Elsevier Baard 2003–2004; BPP Professional Education (Netherlands), various positions 1992–2003

Born 1970, British citizen

CFO
Member of the EMT since 2022

Education: B.Sc. (Hons) Mathematics, Chartered Accountant (ACA)

Work experience: eBay Classifieds Group (eCG), CFO 2013-2022; eBay Group, several managerial and leadership positions 2006-2013; Factiva (a Dow Jones/Reuters company at the time), European Head of Finance 2001-2005; ExxonMobile, various finance positions 1996-2001; Coopers & Lybrand (nowadays part of PwC), various positions 1992-1996

Born 1970, Finnish citizen

CEO, Sanoma Media Finland
Member of the EMT since 2015

Education: M.Sc. (Econ.)

Work experience: Nelonen Media (part of Sanoma Group), e.g. President 2014–2015, President, acting 2013–2014, Senior Vice President, Head of Consumer Business, Marketing & Business Development 2012–2013, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing 2008–2012, Vice President, Sales 2006–2008, Marketing Manager 2001–2006; SCA Hygiene Products (Finland) 1996–2001, various positions e.g. Key Account Manager, Product Manager and Marketing Manager

Key board memberships: Ilmarinen, Confederation of Finnish Industries (Elinkeinoelämän keskusliitto EK) , Finnmedia (Chair), WWF Finland (Supervisory Board)