Voith Paper has announced a leadership transition that will see Tero Kokko become President & CEO effective October 1, 2026. He will succeed Andreas Endters, who will leave the company at the end of the current fiscal year after more than 35 years with the organization.
Kokko will also join the Corporate Board of Management of Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA when he assumes leadership of the paper technology business.
Endters informed Voith’s shareholders and management of his decision to step down at the end of the fiscal year. During more than three decades with the company, he held a range of international leadership positions and played a key role in strengthening Voith Paper’s position as a global technology supplier to the paper industry.
“Over the past 35 years, Voith has been much more than an employer to me; however, the time has come to hand over responsibility and begin a new chapter,” Endters said. “I am confident that Voith Paper, with its technological expertise, talented employees and strong culture of innovation, is well positioned for continued success.”
Kokko currently leads the global pulp business area at Finnish technology company Valmet. He brings more than 20 years of international leadership experience spanning strategy, transformation and business development, and holds a doctorate in Automation and Control Engineering from Tampere University of Technology.
“The paper industry is undergoing significant change worldwide,” Kokko said. “I look forward to working with this talented team to help shape the future of the business, support our customers and build on the strong foundation that Voith Paper has established.”
Voith said the leadership change supports its ongoing efforts to align the Paper division with evolving customer and market requirements. The company noted that the paper industry continues to face economic pressures while undergoing rapid technological and structural transformation, prompting increased focus on innovation, competitiveness and future technologies.
Siegfried Russwurm, Chairman of the Shareholders’ Committee and Supervisory Board of Voith, credited Endters with helping guide the business through challenging periods while advancing its strategic development. He also described Kokko as a strong successor whose international market and customer experience will support the company’s continued evolution.
Voith Group President & CEO Dirk Hoke said the company intends to further align Voith Paper with customer and market needs while building on its technological strengths and long-term growth opportunities.
Part of the Voith Group, Voith Paper is a leading full-line supplier to the paper industry, providing technologies, services, automation and digital solutions for paper manufacturers worldwide.
