News Paper Pulp
Valmet names Sami Riekkola as new business line president for automation

August 7, 2018 – Valmet, developer and supplier of technology and automation for the pulp, paper and energy industries, has appointed Sami Riekkola as business line president, automation effective September 1, 2018.

He replaces Sakari Ruotsalainen, who retires on September 30.

Riekkola is currently employed at Valmet as VP energy and process systems in the automation business line. He started his career in 1998 as automation project engineer at Valmet and has since worked in a variety of automation positions within the company in several locations in Europe and Australia. He brings to the role experience in automation products, project management, sales and customer management, as well as automation related services.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Sami Riekkola to our executive team,” says Pasi Laine, president and CEO of Valmet, and who Riekkola will directly report to. “His long and versatile experience in our automation business has helped him to gain a thorough understanding of the business and its customers in different markets. With this background, I believe Sami is in an excellent position to lead our automation business line and to grow it further. I want to thank Sakari Ruotsalainen for his strong dedication and excellent contribution to Valmet’s success in the past years. It has been a true pleasure to work with Sakari. We wish Sakari all the best for his well-earned retirement days.”