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Ahlstrom-Munksjö restructures business

15 May '19

3 min read

Pic: Ahlstrom-Munksjo/Laura Lindholm

Ahlstrom-Munksjö is making changes to its business and reporting structure as of January 1, 2020, following completion and initial integration phase of the Expera Specialty Solutions acquisition. With this, Ahlstrom-Munksjö will promote its core business capabilities, sharpen its strategic targets and align business characteristics of each business area.

In the new organisational structure, businesses are combined which share same core capabilities, strategic targets and characteristics. This enables Ahlstrom-Munksjö to strengthen and further promote its capabilities in areas of product development and innovation, global key customer account management, product and production technology as well as process improvement and production optimisation. The reorganisation will support profitable growth, competitiveness as well as customer service.

The transformative acquisition of Expera Specialty Solutions was completed on October 10, 2018. The acquisition almost tripled Ahlstrom-Munksjö's net sales in the US. This specialty paper business is highly complementary with Ahlstrom-Munksjö's fibre-based solutions businesses and provides attractive cost and business synergies. In the new business structure, where the acquired fifth business will be integrated into Ahlstrom-Munksjö's operating platform, the full potential of the business combination will be realised.

In the new structure, Business Area Filtration and Performance Solutions will have Daniele Borlatto as its executive vice president, Business Area Advanced Solutions will have Omar Hoek as executive vice president, Business Area Industrial Solutions will be led by its executive vice president Dan Adrianzon, Business Area Food and Technical Solutions, will be led by executive vice president Robyn Buss, and Business Area Decor Solutions, will have executive vice president Tomas Wulkan as its head.

Long-term business planning and target setting for 2020 and beyond will be completed during the second half of this year based on the new structure. The businesses and organisation within each business area will be announced in the third quarter of 2019.

Hans Sohlström, president and CEO, comments: "The global Business Area and Business Unit structure is a strategic cornerstone and key success factor of our company. Decentralised end-to-end business responsibilities and local accountability drives good customer service, quality, innovation and profits as well as growth in the most effective way. The five business areas are defined and the business units grouped into business areas based on strategic targets, core capabilities and main characteristics of each business. This organisational change is a preplanned and natural next step in the integration of the acquired Expera Specialty Solutions to our Group."

As per the changes in the Group Executive Management Team, Robyn Buss is appointed executive vice president of Business Area North America Specialty Solutions as of October 1, 2019. She succeeds Russ Wanke, who retires end of September.

Sohlström says: "I thank Russ Wanke for his valuable contribution to ensure a smooth integration of Expera Specialty Solutions in to Ahlstrom-Munksjö and wish him all the best for his retirement. At the same time, I welcome Robyn Buss to our Group Executive Management Team. Her strong customer centric leadership, business skills and experience especially from North America bring valuable contribution to our Group Leadership Team."

Daniele Borlatto has been appointed executive vice president of Business Area Filtration and Performance as of June 7, 2019. He is currently executive vice president of Business Area Industrial Solutions. Daniele succeeds Fulvio Capussotti, who will take up new responsibilities outside Ahlstrom-Munksjö and leave the company at the same date. (SV)

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