Stora Enso is restructuring its Group Leadership Team as the company prepares for major strategic shifts, including the planned 2027 demerger of its Swedish forest business and the ongoing strategic review of its Central European sawmills and building solutions operations.
The leadership changes, effective 1 January 2026, aim to strengthen the Group’s strategic focus and operational efficiency.
Tuomas Hallenberg has been appointed President and CEO of the future standalone Swedish forest business. He will step down from the Group Leadership Team at the end of December but will continue reporting to President and CEO Hans Sohlström. Hallenberg, who joined Stora Enso in 2024, brings extensive industry experience from Metsähallitus and UPM.
Pauli Torikka will become Executive Vice President of the newly established Wood and Energy business area and will join the Group Leadership Team. The new division will consolidate wood sourcing and trading, the Group’s energy business, the wood products supply chain and sales, and Central European sawmilling operations.
In addition, Lars Völkel has been appointed Executive Vice President, Containerboard, succeeding Hannu Kasurinen, who retires after 32 years with Stora Enso. Völkel, currently leading the Wood Products business, will continue to serve on the Group Leadership Team.
“These appointments will help advance Stora Enso’s strategic transformation,” Sohlström said. “I congratulate Tuomas, Lars and Pauli on their new roles and extend my gratitude to Hannu Kasurinen for his remarkable contribution over more than three decades.”
As of 1 January 2026, the Group Leadership Team will include Hans Sohlström (CEO), Niclas Rosenlew, Micaela Thorström, Tobias Bäärnman, Andreas Birmoser, Markku Luoto, Lars Völkel, Carolyn Wagner, Johanna Hagelberg and Pauli Torikka.
Stora Enso is a global provider of renewable packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction solutions, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. With approximately 19,000 employees and EUR 9 billion in sales in 2024, the company focuses on replacing fossil-based materials with renewable alternatives. Stora Enso’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki and Nasdaq Stockholm.
Source: Stora Enso
