K Group renews its building and technical trade division organization

K GROUP PRESS RELEASE 25 OCTOBER 2017 AT 09.30 1(2)

K Group renews its building and technical trade division organization

K Group is the market leader in Finland and a leading operator in Northern Europe in building and technical trade. K Group is making changes to the organisation of its building and technical trade division in an effort to strengthen the division's profitability and to accelerate international growth. The division operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Belarus.

Under the new organisation, local country organizations are responsible for the sales and profit and their management will report directly to the President of the division. Finland will also become a separate country organization and profit unit. Local country organisations will be supported by common supporting functions. At the core of it all are the customer-centric B2B and B2C operations and the commerce organisation, which improves the efficiency of sourcing and the competitiveness of the division.

As of 25 October, Timo Pesonen is appointed country director for Finland while the other country directors continue in their positions: Knut Strand Jacobsen, Norway, Yvonne Magnusson, Sweden, Endre Espeseth, Poland and Artem Taraev, Russia.

In division's common supporting functions Tommi Kasurinen is appointed as Senior Vice President responsible for finance and strategy and Timo Heimo as a Senior Vice President responsible for eCommerce, digital services and ICT. The other executives continue in their positions: Mikko Pasanen, Senior Vice President, B2B business, Virpi Viinikainen, Senior Vice President, B2C business, Petteri Niemi, Senior Vice President, commerce, supply chain management and logistics, Jonna Nummela, Senior Vice President, marketing and communications and Jennie Stenbom, Senior Vice President, people and culture, HR.

Terho Kalliokoski also acts as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kesko Senukai. The President of Kesko Senukai, Arturas Rakauskas, reports to Kalliokoski.

For further information:
Jessica Diktonius, Communications Director, K Group's building and technical trade, +358 40 709 9176, jessica.diktonius@kesko.fi

Kesko Corporation

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Kesko and K-retailers form the K Group, whose sales total over €13 billion. K Group is the third largest retail operator in Northern Europe and it employs approximately 45,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko's net sales are €10 billion and it employs approximately 28,000 people. Kesko has nearly 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Kesko is a listed company and its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company's domicile and main business premises are in Helsinki. Kesko is the world's most responsible trading sector company (The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World) www.kesko.fi