Robit CEO Mikko Kuusilehto to lead Nurminen Logistics after tariff-hit outlook cut

CEO transition comes as logistics group expands its European rail network while restructuring North Rail

Mikko Kuusilehto, chief executive of drilling tools maker Robit Oyj, will join Nurminen Logistics Oyj as CEO on Jan. 1, 2027, after leading Robit for less than 16 months. The appointment comes as the international rail logistics operator expands in Central Europe while responding to higher Russian railway tariffs through efficiency measures and the restructuring of North Rail.

Kuusilehto succeeds Olli Pohjanvirta, who will remain CEO through Dec. 31, 2026, before becoming an advisor while retaining his board seats at Nurminen Logistics and subsidiary North Rail Oy, the Helsinki-listed logistics company announced yesterday.

The new CEO joins as Nurminen Logistics responds to a tariff-hit outlook. Chair Irmeli Rytkönen said the board is “convinced that he has the right prerequisites to lead Nurminen Logistics in its next phase of development and strengthen the company's position in the international market.”

The incoming CEO said Nurminen Logistics has established a solid position in international rail logistics and believes the company has a strong platform for further development.

Kuusilehto has led Robit since August 2025 after more than seven years at Kuusakoski, where he served as COO before becoming CEO and president. He is expected to remain with Robit through a six-month notice period while the board searches for a successor.

During his tenure, Robit moved into the early stages of an operational recovery. After a weaker 2025, first-quarter 2026 results showed orders received rising 19% year over year and comparable EBIT more than doubling, while the company maintained its 2026 guidance.

What Kuusilehto inherits at Nurminen Logistics

Nurminen Logistics enters the CEO transition after a mixed financial performance. Full-year 2025 net sales increased by over 4% to EUR 109.4 million, with comparable EBITA of EUR 18.3 million and operating cash flow improving to EUR 20.1 million. The first quarter of 2026 was weaker, however, as net sales fell over 21% year over year to EUR 25.5 million and comparable EBITA declined to EUR 3.5 million, reflecting lower Baltic transport volumes and severe ice conditions at Finnish ports.

Alongside those near-term challenges, the company continues to pursue its international expansion strategy. It plans to double capacity on its Italy-Sweden block train route and launch a Sweden-Spain rail connection in January 2027, building on its expansion into Sweden and Central Europe. At the same time, Nurminen Logistics is implementing approximately EUR 1.5 million in efficiency measures and continuing the restructuring of subsidiary North Rail, where change negotiations target around EUR 3 million in annual savings.

The company lowered its 2026 outlook on July 2 after Russia increased railway tariffs for transport to Finland. Nurminen Logistics estimates the tariff changes will reduce 2026 net sales by around EUR 4 million to EUR 5 million and now expects full-year net sales to reach or fall slightly below the 2025 level. Comparable operating profit is expected to decline year over year while remaining at what the company describes as "a good level" of profitability.