Finnair Appoints Turkka Kuusisto as New CEO to Lead Next Phase of Growth
(IN SHORT) Finnair has announced the appointment of Turkka Kuusisto as the new CEO, effective from July 11, 2024, or earlier. Kuusisto, who currently serves as the CEO of Posti Group Corporation, brings extensive experience in senior leadership roles and a deep understanding of complex industries. Finnair’s Chair of the Board, Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae, expressed confidence in Kuusisto’s ability to lead the airline in its next strategic phase after overcoming recent challenges. Kuusisto expressed enthusiasm for taking on the role and highlighted Finnair’s unique heritage as a 100-year-old airline with global connections. The current CEO, Topi Manner, will leave the company on January 15, 2024, to become CEO at Elisa Corporation, with Jaakko Schildt, Finnair’s Chief Operating Officer, serving as interim CEO during the transition period.
(PRESS RELEASE) Helsinki, Finland, 2024-Jan-13 — /Travel PR News/ — Finnair has appointed Turkka Kuusisto (44, MSc. Tech) as CEO of Finnair and he will start in this role on 11 July 2024 at the latest. Kuusisto joins Finnair from Posti Group Corporation, where he has served as the CEO since 2020. Prior to his CEO role in Posti Group Corporation, Kuusisto served in senior leadership positions in Posti Group Corporation and in Lindorff Group.
”I am happy to welcome Turkka Kuusisto to take the helm of Finnair and drive the next phases of Finnair’s strategy. Finnair has restored its profitability after the historic double crisis, and the company is well positioned to continue to build a sustainable future, offering excellent connections via its Helsinki hub to both Finns and to customers traveling between Europe and Asia, the Middle East, and Americas”, says Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae, Chair of the Board of Directors, Finnair.
“Turkka brings to Finnair his strong understanding of complex industries and his proven people leadership and strategy skills, which will benefit Finnair as Finnair now moves to the next phase in its strategy”, Suvanto-Harsaae says.
”Finnair embodies to me Finnish spirit and global connections, and it has a long and unique heritage as a 100-year old airline. I am excited and humble to take on the role of CEO in this iconic company. Working side by side with all Finnair colleagues and carefully listening to our customers, I trust our joint journey will be a successful one”, says Turkka Kuusisto.
Finnair’s current CEO Topi Manner will leave the company on 15 January 2024 to later take on the role of CEO at Elisa Corporation. Jaakko Schildt, Chief Operating Officer of Finnair, will act as an interim CEO between 15 January and the start of the new CEO.
INVITATION TO PRESS CONFERENCE
Finnair will hold a press conference (in Finnish) today 11 January 2024 at 11:00 a.m. EET at its office at Tietotie 9, Vantaa, Finland. Speakers at the press conference are Chair of the Board Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae and Turkka Kuusisto. Media can participate in the press conference also via a live webcast at https://finnairgroup.videosync.fi/2024-
Finnair is a network airline, specialising in connecting passenger and cargo traffic between Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe. Finnair is the only airline with year-round direct flights to Lapland. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do – Finnair intends to reach carbon neutrality latest by the end of 2045. Customers have chosen Finnair as the Best Airline in Northern Europe in the Skytrax Awards for 13 times in a row. Finnair is a member of the oneworld alliance. Finnair Plc’s shares are quoted on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange.
Media Contact:
Finnair Media Desk
+358 9 818 4020
comms(a)finnair.com
Finnair Gallery: http://gallery.finnair.com
Finnair on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Finnair
Finnair blogs: https://bluewings.finnair.com/
Finnair on Facebook: www.facebook.com/finnair
Finnair Group website: https://company.finnair.com/en
Source: Finnair
###