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 Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson 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
Nils Ittonen
Nils Ittonen
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 2024
Chair of the Executive Committee
Independent of the company and major shareholders

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

Main occupation: Huhtamäki Oyj, Chairperson of the Board

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

Key board memberships: Huhtamäki Oyj (Chairperson), Here Technologies (HERE Global B.V.) (Chairperson, Supervisory Board)

Born 1954, Finnish citizen

Vice Chair of the Board of Sanoma since 2021.
Sanoma Board member since 2014, term ends in 2024

Member of the Audit Committee and the Executive Committee
Independent of the company
Non-independent of major shareholders: Chairperson of Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation that held 39,820,286 (24.4%) Company’s shares on 31 December 2022

Education: B.Sc. (Econ.)

Main occupation:

Primary work experience: Sanoma Group, various positions, including Senior Vice President of Group Treasury, Real Estate and Risk Management 1977–2010, Member of the Executive Management Group 1999–2007

Key positions of trust: Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (Chairperson)

Other positions of trust: Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (Chairperson of the Finance Committee)

Born 1964, British citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2020, term ends in 2024

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

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

Main occupation:  -

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

Board memberships: Dragons Teaching (Chairperson), Kindred Advisory Board (Vice Chairperson)

Rolf Grisebach
Rolf Grisebach
Anna Herlin
Anna Herlin
Mika Ihamuotila
Mika Ihamuotila

Born 1961, German citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2020, term ends in 2024

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

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

Main occupation: 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

Born 1982, Finnish citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2021, term ends in 2024

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 Chairperson); e2 Research (Vice Chairperson)

Born 1964, Finnish citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2013, term ends in 2024

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

Education: Ph.D. (Econ.)

Main occupation: Marimekko Corporation, Executive Chairperson of the Board

Primary work experience: Marimekko Corporation, Chairperson of the Board and CEO 2015–2016, President and CEO and Vice Chairperson of the Board 2008–2015; Sampo Bank Plc, President and CEO 2001–2007; Mandatum Bank Plc, President and CEO 2000–2001, Executive Director 1998–2000; Mandatum & Co Ltd, Partner 1994–1998, Yale University, Visiting scholar 1992–1993

Key board memberships: Marimekko Corporation (Executive Chairperson), Mannerheim Foundation (Chairperson), Musopia Oy (Chairperson)

Other board memberships or positions of trust: -

Denise Koopmans
Denise Koopmans
Sebastian Langenskiöld
Sebastian Langenskiöld
Eugenie van Wiechen
Eugenie van Wiechen

Born 1962, Dutch citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2015, term ends in 2024

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

Education: LL.M., AMP and IDP-C

Main occupation: Independent Board Director

Primary work experience: Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, Managing Director of the Legal & Regulatory Division 2011–2015; LexisNexis Business Information Solutions, CEO and LexisNexis International, member of the Senior Leadership team 2007–2011; Capgemini Engineering, various senior executive roles 2000–2007

Key board memberships:  Cicor Technologies Ltd., Swiss Post AG,  Royal BAM Group nv, Norma Group SE

Other positions of trust: Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal («Ondernemingskamer») (Lay Judge/Counsel)

 

Born 1982, Finnish citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2019, term ends in 2024

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

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

Main occupation:  Salesforce, EMEA ISV GTM Principal Partner Account Manager

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

Born 1969, Dutch citizen

Sanoma Board member since 2023, term ends in 2024

Independent of the company and major shareholders

Education: MBA, INSEAD, France 1997; MSc (drs.) Chemical Engineering, University of Amsterdam 1994; Research Scholar Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harvard Medical School 1994

Main occupation: CEO 2014– and Publishing Director 2011–, FD Mediagroep

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

Key board memberships: Artis, Supervisory Board 2022–

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.
Susan Duinhoven
Susan Duinhoven
President and CEO
Alex Green
Alex Green
CFO
Pia Kalsta
Pia Kalsta
CEO, Sanoma Media Finland

Born 1965, Dutch citizen

President and CEO
Chairman of the EMT since 2015
Member of the Executive Committee

Education: Ph.D. (Physical Chemistry), B.Sc. (Physical Chemistry)

Work experience: Koninklijke Wegener N.V., CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board 2013–2015; Thomas Cook Group Plc, CEO of Western Europe 2012–2013; Thomas Cook Nederland B.V. , CEO 2010–2011; Reader’s Digest, Managing Director of Benelux & New Acquisitions Europe 2008–2010; De Gule Sider A/S , CEO 2005–2007. Further work experience starting from 1988 includes Unilever, McKinsey, VNU Gouden Gids and De Telefoongids.

Key board memberships: KONE Corporation

Born 1970, British citizen

CFO
Member of the EMT since 1 March 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, several finance positions 1996-2001; Coopers & Lybrand (nowadays part of PwC) 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) 2001–2015, 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, several positions e.g. Key Account Manager, Product Manager and Marketing Manager

Rob Kolkman
Rob Kolkman
CEO, Sanoma Learning

Born 1972, Dutch citizen

CEO, Sanoma Learning
Member of the EMT since 2019

Education: MBA, Master in Economics (Accountancy)

Work experience: 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; various roles at BPP Professional Education Netherlands 1992–2003