Kesko's Group Management Board to be revamped

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 16.12.2014 AT 09.00 1(2)

Kesko's Group Management Board to be revamped

Two new members have been appointed to Kesko's Group Management Board. CCJ Lauri Peltola, 51, has been appointed Senior Vice President for corporate responsibility, communications and stakeholder relations and a Group Management Board member. Kesko's General Counsel, Senior Vice President Anne Leppälä-Nilsson, 61, LL.M., B.Sc. (Econ.), has also been appointed a Group Management Board member.

Lauri Peltola has previously held the positions of Country Senior Executive for Finland in 2013-2014 and Senior Vice President, Global Identity in 2009-2014 at Stora Enso. His earlier positions include Executive Vice President, Group Identity and Communications at Nordea in 2008-2009 and Communications Director for Metsäliitto Group in 2005-2008. Lauri Peltola will take his position on 2 March 2015 at the latest.

Anne Leppälä-Nilsson has been Group General Counsel, Senior Vice President for the legal affairs, internal audit and risk management of Kesko Corporation in 2005-2014. She joined Kesko in 2001 as General Counsel. Leppälä-Nilsson's previous positions include Vice President, legal affairs at Aspo Plc.

As from 1 January 2015, Kesko's Group Management Board members will be: Mikko Helander, Chair; Jorma Rauhala, the grocery trade; Terho Kalliokoski, the home improvement and speciality goods trade; Pekka Lahti, the car and machinery trade; Jukka Erlund, accounting and finance, CFO; Matti Mettälä, human resources; and Anne Leppälä-Nilsson, legal affairs.

A Chief Digital Officer (CDO), responsible for business development and marketing, will be appointed to Kesko's Group Management Board. The CDO will be in charge of strengthening Kesko's forerunner position in the development of digital solutions for the trading sector.

As for the current Group Management Board members, Arja Talma will transfer to special assignments in the development and maintenance of store site assets and business properties as from 1 January 2015 and will report to the President and CEO. Minna Kurunsaari will leave Kesko.

Kesko will develop its regional operations and revise the division of its districts in Finland. As from 1 January 2015, the new district division will be: the Greater Helsinki Area, Southern Finland, Western Finland, Central Finland, Eastern Finland and Northern Finland.

Kesko will today publish a separate press release about the operational objectives and organisation of the district operations.

Photos of the Group Management Board members can be downloaded from http://www.kesko.fi/aineistopankki.

Further information is available from Executive Vice President Mikko Helander, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 105 322 301.

Kesko Corporation

Merja Haverinen
Vice President, Group Communications

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