CHANGES IN GLOBAL MANAGEMENT
Rapala VMC Corporation
Stock Exchange Release
May 10, 2022 at 9 p.m.
RAPALA VMC CORPORATION: CHANGES IN THE GLOBAL MANAGEMENT TEAM
Rapala VMC has a proud tradition of long-term senior management who offer a wealth of experience. Together with the new ONE RAPALA VMC strategy, there has been a transition and handover to our most talented junior supervisors over the past two years to ensure that key knowledge is retained and that new strategic benefits can be leveraged as part of our new strategic journey. . As a result, the next changes in Rapala VMC’s Management Team, renamed the Global Management Team, will take place in the coming months.
Lars Ollberg, Chief Operating Officer of Rapala VMC, will retire at the end of May 2022 after a very successful 44-year career at Rapala VMC. He began his career in 1978. As a sales representative, Lars Ollberg has worked for a long time in sales, marketing, PD and sourcing positions at several Rapala VMC business units around the world. As COO, Lars Ollberg has successfully addressed the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and implemented our new ONE RAPALA VMC strategy with the activities and areas it represents.
Nicolas Cederström Warchalowski, CEO of Rapala VMC, will primarily be joining Lars Ollberg to further simplify the management structure with the smallest possible management layer to ensure that we work more closely with our business units around the world as part of the new ONE RAPALA VMC strategy.
“I am so proud and humble when I look back on my life and career at Rapala VMC. I am very fortunate to be a part of something that started small and has grown into a respected player in the high end fishing gear industry. I am also very relieved to look ahead. Rapala VMC’s journey continues steadily and the company is on its way to an even higher level with new leadership and vision, ”says Lars Ollberg.
Olli Aho, Rapala VMC’s long-term General Counsel, Investor Relations Manager and Secretary to the Board, will retire at the end of December 2022. He will continue as General Counsel of Rapala VMC until December 31, 2024. Olli Aho has led several successful acquisitions for Rapala VMC during his 24-year career and the listing of Rapala VMC Corporation on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange in 1998. Olli Aho has also ensured strong governance, sound lawyers and strong leadership for the Board and Global Management Team during his successful career. In Rapala VMC.
“I have really enjoyed working with so many nice and passionate colleagues and friends over the years. It has been really great to have been able to contribute to the growth and success of Rapala VMC since 1998. Rapala VMC has developed into a truly multinational company. And a cohesive company with a strong and solid ONE RAPALA VMC strategy that secures future success, ”says Olli Aho.
Most of Olli Aho’s duties at the strategic global management team level are handled by CFO Jan-Elof Cavander, along with senior members of Jan-Elof Cavander’s cross-functional finance, business development, IT, HR and legal teams.
RAPALA VMC CORPORATION
Nicolas Cederström Warchalowski
President and CEO
More information:
Olli Aho, Investor Relations, tel. +358 9 7562 540
Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki and major media
About Rapala VMC Corporation
Rapala VMC is the world’s leading fishing tackle company and the global market leader in fishing lures, triple hooks and fishing knives and tools. The Group also has a strong global position in other fishing categories and Rapala VMC’s distribution network is the largest in the fishing industry. The most important production facilities are in Finland, France, Estonia and the United Kingdom. Rapala VMC’s brand portfolio includes the industry-leading brand Rapala as well as other global brands such as VMC, Sufix, Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr Jensen, Williamson, Dynamite Baits, Mora Ice, StrikeMaster, Marttiini, Peltonen and 13 Fishing outside. In the United States and Okuma in Europe. The Group’s turnover in 2021 was EUR 294 million and it employs about 1,800 people in about 40 countries. Rapala VMC Corporation ‘s share has been listed and traded on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange since 1998.