HELSINKI, Finland, Dec. 4, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metsa Tissue Corporation's President and CEO Hannu Anttila (47) is to take over as Senior Vice President, CFO of the Metsaliitto Group during spring 2003, when Kari Haavisto, who currently holds the post, retires.
The process of choosing a new President and CEO for Metsa Tissue has already started and the appointment will be announced at a later date.
According to Antti Oksanen, Chairman of Metsa Tissue Corporation's Board of Directors and President and CEO of the Metsaliitto Group, Hannu Anttila's appointment is part of the Metsaliitto Group's drive to further develop its management resources. Metsa Tissue has made good progress in recent years and its operations are on a solid foundation. It will be the job of the new President and CEO to continue the dynamic development of Metsa Tissue into a strong European supplier of consumer products in line with the policy implemented by the company's present management.
For more information:
Hannu Anttila, President and CEO of Metsa Tissue Corp. tel. +358 10 469 4959, GSM +358 50 2398. Pekka Kivela, Senior Vice President of the Metsaliitto Group tel. +358 10 469 4545, GSM +358 500 500 928.
BACKGROUND RELEASE
METSA TISSUE IS A DYNAMICALLY GROWING CONSUMER GOODS COMPANY
Metsa Tissue is a European consumer goods company engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of tissue products and of baking and cooking papers for both households and large-scale consumers.
The company's four business areas are Consumer, Away-from-Home, Table Top and Baking & Cooking.
Metsa Tissue's main market is Europe north of the Alps. The company is the Nordic market leader in tissue paper products and the fourth biggest supplier of tissue paper in Europe. Metsa Tissue is also the European market leader in baking and cooking papers.
Metsa Tissue's goal is to become the leading European tissue paper company in selected markets in Europe north of the Alps. These markets have over 200 million consumers.
Metsa Tissue's mission is to provide consumers and other customers with comfort for everyday living, both at home and away from home.
In 2001, the Group had a turnover of EUR 650 million and an operating profit of EUR 37 million. Metsa Tissue is seeking to achieve dynamic growth in selected markets. The company's target for profitability is to achieve an operating margin of over 10 per cent and to operate with a balance sheet structure such that the turnover of capital is at least two.
Metsa Tissue's approach to business
Business is based on the needs of the customer. Metsa Tissue wants to produce the best possible solutions for its customers and to establish with them confidential relations to the benefit of all concerned. Metsa Tissue seeks to achieve preferred partner status among its customers. The company takes a market-oriented approach to business and operates innovatively and efficiently.
Metsa Tissue has launched several important market-oriented investment and development programmes designed to raise product quality and degree of processing, particularly of consumer products, and at the same time to substantially improve production efficiency. These investment and development programmes are being carried out largely during 2002-2004 and will cost around EUR 90 million.
Products, brands and product development
Metsa Tissue's products are bathroom tissue, household towels, paper towels and industrial wipes, table napkins, tissue handkerchiefs and baking and cooking papers.
Metsa Tissue invests primarily in its own brand names, which are Lambi, Serla, Leni, Mola, Katrin, Saga and Fasana. The company also works with customers to develop business based on customers' own brands. Metsa Tissue's centralized product development unit Competence Center Tissue is located at the Raubach mill in Germany.
The company encourages the lean use of natural resources at all stages of its products' life cycles. Product safety and occupational safety are key aspects of Metsa Tissue's activities.
Values and employees
Within Metsa Tissue there is a strong focus on establishing a common set of working practices. Bets practices are born out of a common set of values and the commitment of the entire workforce to the company's strategy. The company's values are Creating added value, Trust, Continuous improvement and "We do it."
Metsa Tissue's mills are located in Finland, Sweden, Germany and Poland. The company has sales offices in Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, France and Great Britain. The number of employees at the end of 2001 was 2,900.
Metsa Tissue's shares have been quoted on the Helsinki Stock Exchange since 1997. Metsa Tissue is part of the M-real Group and the Metsaliitto Group.
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