Mikko Helander Appointed Metsa Tissue's President and CEO from August 1, 2003


ESPOO, Finland, Feb. 6, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Board of Directors of Metsa Tissue Corporation has appointed Mikko Helander (42) as the company's President and CEO with effect from August 1, 2003. Mr. Helander is currently President of Metso Paper's Valmet Converting Group based at Bedford in the U.K.

In recent years Mikko Helander has held positions in international management, principally with Metso Corporation, where he began his career in 1984.

Metsa Tissue is a vigorously developing European consumer goods company whose tissue products and baking and cooking papers are used by both households and large-scale consumers. Metsa Tissue's main market is Europe north of the Alps, where the company is the fourth biggest supplier of tissue and the market leader in baking and cooking papers. In the Nordic countries, Metsa Tissue is the market leader in tissue products. In 2002, the company had a turnover of EUR 648 million and employed 3,300 people. Metsa Tissue is part of M-real Corporation and the Metsaliitto Group.

For more information:

 Jouko M. Jaakkola, President and CEO
 M-real Corporation
 tel. +358 10 469 4118

 Hannu Anttila, President and CEO
 Metsa Tissue Corporation
 tel. +358 10 469 4959

 Mikko Helander, President and CEO
 Metsa Tissue Corporation (From August 1, 2003)
 tel. +44 1234 852 553


 Curriculum vitae

 MIKKO HELANDER

 Date of birth                       June 2, 1960
 
 Marital status                      Married, two daughters

 Education                           M.Sc. (Engineering/Business Economy)
                                     Lappeenranta University of
                                     Technology, 1985

 Career

 Metsa Tissue Corp.                  President and CEO, as of 1
                                     August 2003

 Metso Corp.                         President
                                     Valmet Converting Group,
                                     Bedford, U.K.
                                     January 1, 1999 - July 31, 2003

 Valmet Group                        Vice President, Chief Executive
                                     Calenders, Valmet Corporation
                                     1997-1999

                                     Vice President, Operations
                                     Valmet Rotomec S.p.A, Italy
                                     1994-1996

                                     Vice President, Projects
                                     Coaters and Calenders
                                     Valmet Paper Machinery Inc.
                                     1993-1994

 Kasten-Hovik Group                  Technical Director of the Group
 (part of Cultor Group)              Managing Director, Kasten Hovik Oy
                                     1990-1993

 Valmet Oy                           Various positions
                                     1984-1990

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