Stock Exchange Release 11/02/2010 12:00
Mikael Pentikäinen, 45, President of Sanoma News Ltd, part of the Sanoma Group, has been appointed publisher and senior editor-in-chief of the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat as of 1 April 2010. Sanoma's Board of Directors made the decision today.
As publisher and senior editor-in-chief Pentikäinen is responsible for both the business operations and the content of Helsingin Sanomat.
"I am glad that we found a very competent leader for Helsingin Sanomat from within the Group. I believe that this new kind of role, being responsible for both the business operations and content, will help Pentikäinen to steer Helsingin Sanomat to become an even higher quality media, and to exploit the vast opportunities offered by digital media," comments Sanoma's Chairman of the Board Jaakko Rauramo.
The current senior editor-in-chief of Helsingin Sanomat, Janne Virkkunen, 61, will concentrate on special editorial projects as of 1 April and will retire according to his contract at the end of 2010. Virkkunen has led Helsingin Sanomat's editorial offices since 1991.
"Helsingin Sanomat is in the prime of its existence: content is first-class, finances are in a good shape and it has more readers than ever, as the online service has increased its popularity and the printed paper has kept pace. The basis is good, but also the challenges in the changing media environment are big," Pentikäinen says.
"I want Helsingin Sanomat to be known for its excellent content and bold measures also in the future," Pentikäinen says.
Pentikäinen has been president of Sanoma News since 2004. Previously he has worked as political editor in Helsingin Sanomat, as editor-in-chief in the regional paper Etelä-Saimaa and as editor-in-chief and president of the Finnish News Agency, STT, among others.
Sanoma News' acting president as of 1 April will be Pekka Soini, 52. Currently he is president of Helsingin Sanomat. Soini will also become a member of Sanoma's Executive Management Group. Soini has served Helsingin Sanomat since 1980 in different positions, as marketing director and president, among others.
Sanoma Corporation
Kim Ignatius
Chief Financial Officer
Additional information:
Chairman of the Board, Jaakko Rauramo, Sanoma, tel. +358 105 19 5500
President and CEO Hannu Syrjänen, Sanoma, tel. +358 105 19 5020
President Mikael Pentikäinen, Sanoma News, tel. +358 9 122 2000
President Pekka Soini, Helsingin Sanomat, tel. +358 9 122 3260
Sanoma.com
Sanoma inspires, informs and connects. As a diversified media group, we bring information, experiences, education and entertainment to millions of people every day. We make sure that quality content and interesting products and services are easily available and meet the demands of our readers, viewers and listeners. We offer a challenging and interesting working environment for 20,000 people in over 20 countries throughout Europe. In 2009, the Group's net sales totalled EUR 2.8 billion.