Ponsse’s President and CEO Juho Nummela named businessperson of the year

Ponsse Plc’s President and CEO Juho Nummela was named businessperson of the year (Vuoden Liikemies) in an annual event held by Suomen Liikemiesyhdistys in cooperation with Kauppalehti and Aalto University. This marked the first time when the second person from a single company has received the recognition. Ponsse’s founder Einari Vidgrén was presented with the recognition in 1997.

The choice for the businessperson of the year (Vuoden Liikemies) was published on Monday evening in an event held at the Aalto University School of Business. The criteria for the recognition mentioned that Juho Nummela combines the characteristics of modern sustainable leadership. According to the jury, Juho Nummela implements principles in which responsible operations, transparency and the engagement of stakeholders have produced both financial success and success measurable in employee experiences.

'Juho Nummela’s leadership exhibits a simultaneous respect for the company’s roots and the creation of something new. These new things are created in cooperation with every Ponsse employee, which allows Nummela himself to be inspired by a common drive to develop the company, regardless of the organisational level.  Nummela is a manager who engages his employees in genuine dialogue and sets an example when it comes to the leadership capabilities of a new age', said the statement given by the jury.

Juho Nummela’s time as the President and CEO of Ponsse has included some major turning points. He took up his position right before the international financial crisis, which also had a strong impact on Ponsse’s operations. Right now, the people working at Vieremä are busy taking the company’s biggest factory investment into use.

Juho Nummela has a doctorate in technology. He has been Ponsse Plc’s President and CEO for ten years, since 2008. He began his career at Ponsse Plc as a thesis worker in 2002, and continued as the company’s Quality and IT Director in 2005–2006 and as its Factory Director in 2006–2008. Nummela received the Future CEO of the Year recognition in 2017.

Established in 1896, Suomen Liikemiesyhdistys is an organisation aiming to promote the interests of the business entrepreneurs’ community. During the course of its history, the association established Kauppalehti and participated in the establishment of the School of Business, for example. The association’s Vuoden Liikemies recognition has been awarded since 1980.

Recipients of the Vuoden Liikemies recognition 1980–2018:
2018 Juho Nummela, President and CEO, Ponsse Plc
2017 Mika Sutinen, CEO, Musti ja Mirri Oy/Board professional
2016 Paula Salastie, CEO, Teknos Group
2015 Mikko Wirén, CEO, Pihlajalinna Plc
2014 Aaro Cantell, Chair of the Board of Directors, Normet Group Oy
2013 Fred Larsen, President and CEO, Lamor Corporation Ab
2012 Johanna Ikäheimo, Chair of the Board of Directors, Lappset Group Oy
2011 Jukka Roiha, Chair of the Board of Directors, Lindström Oy
2010 Juha Nurminen, Chair of the Board of Directors, Nurminen Logistics, John Nurminen Foundation

All the winners: http://liikemiesyhdistys.fi/vuoden-liikemies/vuoden-liikemiehet-aiemmin/

Diplomas to Aalto University students Pirkka Sippola and Jyri Yli-Villamo

Additionally in the seminar, Suomen Liikemiesyhdistys handed out two diplomas, 3 000 euros/each) to talented Aalto students. Pirkka Sippola was recognised for his work in advancing entrepreneurship. He has been building the Aalto Entrepreneurship Society, which is the largest and most active student-run entrepreneurship community in Europe.

Jyri Yli-Villamo was recognised for his master's thesis (diplomityö) about a consensus of definitions among managers, which is needed to better support entrepreneurial behavior of employees.

Further information:
Mrs. Eira Vatanen
Executive Director, Suomen Liikemiesyhdistys
eira.vatanen@liikemiesyhdistys.fi
tel. +358 50 486 2512
www.liikemiesyhdistys.fi