Home / Business and Economy / Valio CEO Retires After 4 Decades, New Leader Appointed
Valio CEO Retires After 4 Decades, New Leader Appointed
8 Jun
Summary
- Annikka Hurme retires after nearly 40 years with Valio, 10 as CEO.
- Matti Lehmus, formerly of Neste, is appointed Valio's new CEO.
- Valio reported €2.4bn in sales for 2024 and exports to 60 countries.
Annikka Hurme, the long-serving CEO of Finnish food group Valio, will retire at the close of 2026, concluding a distinguished career of nearly forty years with the company. She has led Valio since 2014.
The board has appointed Matti Lehmus as the new CEO, effective from January 1, 2027. Lehmus brings extensive leadership experience from his tenure at the energy company Neste, where he held various executive positions over more than a decade.
During Hurme's tenure, Valio experienced substantial growth, enhanced profitability, and strategically expanded its business. Key developments included entering the plant-based products market, establishing a biogas business, and growing its wholesale operations.
Valio, founded in 1905 and owned by 3,000 Finnish dairy farmers, reported sales of €2.4bn in 2024. The company maintains a significant international presence, exporting to around 60 countries and employing approximately 4,200 people globally.
