Kemijarvi Biorefinery Ltd. has strengthened its Board of Directors with two new appointments. PhD Pirita Mikkanen and retail sector professional Markku Issakainen began their duties on 17 March 2026.

Strong Reinforcement for ESG, Good Governance and Industrial Sustainability

PhD Mikkanen will oversee ESG matters and good governance on the board. She brings more than 25 years of expertise in energy and climate policy, industrial sustainability, and bioenergy and cleantech solutions. She previously served as Vice President of Energy at Metsä Group until February 2026. Mikkanen has extensive board experience, including at Finnfund, and has participated in TESI’s advisory board.

Retail Insight to Strengthen Market and Customer Focus

Markku Issakainen has had a decades‑long career in the fast‑moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, particularly as a successful K‑retailer in central Helsinki. He brings deep knowledge of consumer behaviour, product demand, distribution chains, and the operating logic of retail.

His expertise is especially relevant as Kemijarvi Biorefinery’s customers manufacture products such as hygiene items, packaging and consumer goods, whose demand is directly influenced by retail markets.

 

“The appointments of Mikkanen and Issakainen strengthen our board’s capabilities in two critical areas: sustainable industrial operations and good governance, as well as market insight and customer understanding from the retail perspective. This combination supports the biorefinery project’s progress toward sustainable, competitive and customer‑oriented operations.”
– Harri Vatanen, Chair of the Board, Kemijarvi Biorefinery Ltd.

 

Board Composition

In addition to PhD Mikkanen, Issakainen and Vatanen, the board comprises:

Dr. Markku Hämäläinen, former CEO of Kotka Mills

Bertel Karlstedt, former head of Valmet’s energy and pulp business

Sampsa Lahtinen, former executive at Vaisala and Nokia