Valmet's Sampo Immonen joins Spinnova as CTO as sustainable fiber pioneer splits technology leadership

Sampo Immonen, head of research and development for Valmet's paper and board machines business, will join Spinnova Plc as chief technology officer no later than Oct. 1, 2026, as the Finnish textile-fiber company reshapes its technology leadership while working to restart production and prepare for industrial-scale manufacturing following a difficult 2025.

Immonen will join the management team and report to CEO Janne Poranen, while longtime CTO Juha Salmela moves into the newly created role of chief technology strategy and innovation officer, remaining on the management team, the sustainable fiber pioneer announced recently. The new roles divide responsibility between industrial-scale operations and future technology development.

Founded in 2009, Spinnova develops patented technology for producing textile fiber from wood pulp and waste materials without harmful chemicals or dissolving. The technology originated from research by Juha Salmela at VTT inspired by the way spiders spin silk. The company has already collaborated with brands including The North Face, Puma, Bestseller, H&M Group, Adidas, Ecco and Marimekko. 

Spinnova has been reshaping its leadership throughout 2026 while advancing its production restart plans. Immonen's appointment follows Chief Commercial Officer Mikko Lassila's arrival in April and comes less than two weeks after the company announced Chief Product and Sustainability Officer Shahriare Mahmood would leave in October after five years on the management team, as reported by Listeds earlier.

CEO Janne Poranen said Immonen will help support the company's industrial-scale ambitions. "Sampo is an excellent addition to our team and will play an important role in the company's development and in scaling our technology to industrial scale." 

Immonen joins after more than 14 years at Valmet, where he held a series of technology and R&D leadership roles, most recently heading R&D for the paper and board machines business. His experience spans technology portfolio management, strategic partnerships, piloting and new business development. He said his fiber-industry experience and professional network would help create value for Spinnova and support the company's next stage of development.

Technology leadership split reflects changing responsibilities

The new structure separates responsibility for operating Spinnova's current technology from developing its future technology platform. As CTO, Immonen will oversee industrial-scale technology operations, while Salmela—whose research formed the basis of Spinnova's fiber technology—will concentrate on future technologies, intellectual property and strategic opportunities.

The appointment is the third management team change Spinnova has disclosed this year. As of Oct. 1, the management team will comprise CEO Janne Poranen, CFO and People Officer Santeri Heinonen, CTO Sampo Immonen, CMO Mikko Lassila, Chief Product and Sustainability Officer Shahriare Mahmood until Oct. 20, CTSIO Juha Salmela and General Counsel Johanna Valkama. Mahmood's departure leaves the product and sustainability portfolio without a long-term leader.

The management changes come after a challenging 2025, when Spinnova’s revenue declined almost 55% to EUR 344,000, and operating loss more than doubled to EUR 41.3 million, partly because of an EUR 18.4 million impairment related to the Woodspin joint venture. Since then, Spinnova has focused on preparing to restart production at the Woodspin demonstration facility in Jyväskylä while broadening the commercial network supporting its fiber technology. 

Unlike the management team, the board has remained largely unchanged. At the April 2026 AGM, shareholders re-elected the board and authorized a share issuance. More recently, Pirkka Palomäki replaced Ilkka Kivimäki on the shareholders' nomination board, the body responsible for proposing future board candidates, ahead of the 2027 AGM cycle.