Nordic Listed Leaders

Six of Finland’s most promising young listed-company leaders were recognized in Helsinki today at the Nordic Listed Leaders Future Leaders event. The evening’s most senior honor, CEO of the Year 2026, went to Janne Paavola, CEO of Nokian Panimo Oyj.

The event set out to do something Finnish capital markets rarely do in public: put a spotlight on the next generation of leadership inside listed companies.

“Finland’s listed companies have an exceptionally strong generation of young leaders who often remain invisible in public,” says Helene Auramo, founder of Nordic Listed Leaders and co-founder of Slush. “We want to bring them forward and show that a listed company, too, can be a dynamic and inspiring place to build a career and leadership.”

The Future Leader winners

CEO of the Year — Janne Paavola, Nokian Panimo Oyj. Paavola rose to CEO from within the company and took Nokian Panimo public, listing it on Nasdaq’s First North growth market in April 2025. The jury singled out a successful listing in a challenging market, along with his personal, learning-oriented way of building the company — combining, in the jury’s words, bold building with sustainable growth.

CFO of the Year — Lauri Isotalo, Framery Group Oyj. Isotalo played a central role in Framery Group’s transformation from a founder-led business through a private-equity phase to a company listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. The jury particularly valued a successful initial public offering and two refinancings within the same year, in which the CFO held a strong role.

CMO of the Year — Sanna-Kaisa Niikko, Marimekko Oyj. Under Niikko’s leadership, Marimekko has strengthened its brand and international visibility, with sales growing across all of the company’s main markets. The jury rewarded a bold and distinctive approach to marketing Finnish design internationally.

COO of the Year — Tapani Salminen, Canatu Oyj. Salminen has built Canatu’s operational capabilities through a fast and demanding growth phase. The jury was convinced by his hands-on approach and the concrete steps with which he has moved the company forward.

CTO/CDO of the Year — Ilari Richardt, Terveystalo Oyj. As CDO and SVP Digital Services, Richardt has led Terveystalo’s wide-ranging digitalization and delivered tangible business benefits through the company’s operational development programme. The jury recognized him as a visionary leader who has produced concrete results.

CLO of the Year — Tuulia Niemelä, Springvest Oyj. Niemelä stepped up to general counsel and joined the management team in October 2025, having rapidly built the legal function of a fast-growing, First North-listed investment-services company.

How the winners were chosen

The awards were decided through a careful evaluation process. Initial screening was carried out on the Listeds platform, which analyzes listed-company leadership and financial metrics. Finalists were then asked to provide written answers, assessed by an independent jury, with any potential conflicts of interest taken into account.

The 2026 jury comprised Minja Salmio (Future Leader 2025, chair), Mikael Rautanen (Future Leader 2024), Niko Pakalén (Cevian Capital), Riikka Aaltonen (Talouselämä), Sonja Siggberg (Hannes Snellman), Rasmus Alopaeus (PwC Finland) and Alexandra Therman-Londen (Nordea).

“This year’s standard was impressive,” says jury chair and Future Leader 2025 Minja Salmio. “Among the finalists were leaders who, early in their careers, have already taken companies through listings, international expansion and demanding growth phases. It was a pleasure to see how varied and ambitious leadership is in Finnish listed companies.”

Partners of Nordic Listed Leaders are Talouselämä, Hannes Snellman, IR Partners, Adecco, hasan & partners, Nordea, PwC, Dell Technologies, Admincontrol, Vivicta, and Euroclear.

More than 100 Nordic corporate leaders gathered at Helsinki’s Valkoinen Sali on Dec. 11 as the second annual Nordic Listed Leaders Gala celebrated executives driving sustainable and scalable growth across the region. 

Compared with the inaugural event a year earlier, this year’s gala placed particular emphasis on how listed companies can build long-term growth engines amid tough market conditions and rising expectations from investors and society.

“NLL exists to lift leaders who create real, long-term growth. When Nordic leaders share ideas and push each other forward, the entire region becomes more competitive,” said Helene Auramo, founder of Nordic Listed Leaders.

The CEO of the Year: Panu Porkka

Panu Porkka, CEO of Verkkokauppa.com, won the CEO of the Year Award. Since joining the company’s leadership in 2018, Porkka has guided the leading online retailer through shifting consumer expectations and intense competition.

Porkka has led the company through industry shifts with agility and a customer-first mindset, ensuring operational excellence while pushing digital innovation forward. He empowers his teams, acts boldly, and shapes the future of Finnish retail. His previous roles at Suomalainen Kirjakauppa, Tokmanni, and Lidl Switzerland have shaped a leader comfortable with both commercial detail and operational scale.

Panu Porkka with Robin Bade, board member, Anne-Mari Paapio, chief supply chain officer (left), and Satu Berlin, chief HR officer (right).

Board Member of the Year: Timo Ihamuotila

The Board Member of the Year Award 2025 went to Timo Ihamuotila, who has built an exceptional international career across finance, technology, and industry — from key executive roles at Nokia to serving as CFO of ABB since 2017. His decades of leadership in global markets, risk management, and complex transformations have made him one of Finland’s most respected business figures.

Today, as vice chair of Nokia and a board member of Kone, Timo brings unmatched financial insight, steady judgment, and a commitment to long-term value creation.

Young Board Member of the Year: Kai Tavakka

The Young Board Member of the Year Award went to Kai Tavakka, managing partner at Accendo Capital. Tavakka has already built an impressive track record across several listed companies, bringing a rare mix of ownership mindset, financial expertise, and strong board dynamics.

Tavakka is known for his collaborative yet demanding style, helping boards sharpen their strategic direction while ensuring every member brings their best. He has been especially impactful in discussions on M&A, financing, incentives, and long-term value creation.

With experience that far exceeds his years, and a commitment to helping companies succeed, Tavakka truly represents the future of board leadership.

Kai Tavakka, the Young Board Member of the Year.

Future Leader of the Year: Minja Salmio

Minja Salmio, chief commercial officer (EMEA) at Nightingale Health, was selected as the Future Leader of the Year.  She began her career as a Finnish-trained lawyer and has since stepped confidently into global business leadership — showing that age, gender, and background never limit what’s possible when you work hard and believe in your mission. 

Salmio inspires her teams and the jury by turning challenges into energy and making work feel meaningful. 

Minja Salmio, the Future Leader of the Year. 

Board of the Year: Aspo

Aspo’s seven-member board was named the Board of the Year. Chaired by Heikki Westerlund, the board includes Patricia Allam, Tapio Kolunsarka, Mikael Laine, Annika Ekman, Kaarina Ståhlberg, and Tatu Vehmas. The team that has shown real courage and strong leadership during a major transformation. 

Even in a tough environment, Aspo has improved profitability, thanks to a board that works closely and effectively with management. They also keep sustainability at the core of their decisions.

Aspo’s board combines Finnish roots with broad international experience — and they lead with clarity, teamwork, and a positive spirit. 

The Board of the Year: Aspo. In the photo: Annika Ekman, Tatu Vehmas, Tapio Kolunsarka, Heikki Westerlund, Mikael Laine & Kaarina Ståhlberg.

Nordic IPO of the Year: Verisure

Verisure, which completed a major listing on Nasdaq Stockholm in October, earned the Nordic IPO of the Year Award. The €3.2 billion raise at €13.25 per share valued the company at €13.7 billion, making it Europe’s largest IPO of the year – and a natural choice for the jury.

Operating across Europe and Latin America, Verisure focuses on monitored security solutions for homes and businesses. The offering was several times oversubscribed and supports the company’s plan to reduce debt and pursue acquisitions. The listing also marks Verisure’s return to the public markets, having previously been known as Securitas Direct.

The Nordic IPO of the Year was awarded to Verisure. Jonas Lindström, general manager Nordics and Sweden, Verisure, in the photo.

Building the next chapter of Nordic growth

Across all categories, this year’s winners reflect the qualities shaping the next chapter of Nordic business growth: cross-functional expertise, disciplined execution, and the ability to scale globally while maintaining local trust.

The strength of the Nordic economy rests on visible, credible leadership. “This year’s nominees demonstrated how growth can be both responsible and ambitious—a combination that will define the region’s competitiveness in the years ahead,” Auramo noted.

The winners were carefully selected by a jury composed of the following members:

• Head of the Jury: Leena Niemistö

• Tiina Olkkonen, CEO & partner, IR Partners

• Suvi Onkamo-Häkkinen, CEO, Adecco Finland

• Riikka Rannikko, partner, Hannes Snellman

• Alexandra Therman-Londen, managing director, head of corporate finance Finland, Nordea

• Kauko Storbacka, CEO, PwC Finland

• Niko Pakalen, partner, Cevian Capital

• Anni Erkko, managing editor, Talouselämä

The next Nordic Listed Leaders gala will take place in Helsinki on 5 November 2026. You can already sign up for the event here: https://www.nordiclistedleaders.com/gala-2026