Board of Directors

Under the Company’s Articles of Association, the Board of Directors consists of five to ten members elected at the Annual General Meeting for a term ending at the following AGM. Nine members were elected to the Board for a new term on 28 March 2023.

Matti Kähkönen, Chair of the Neste Board.

Matti Kähkönen

Born 1956

M.Sc. (Engineering)

Chair of the Board since 2018

Member of the Board since 2017

Independent member

Senior Advisor, Metso Corporation 2017–2019. President and CEO, Metso Corporation 2011–2017. Executive Vice President and Deputy to the CEO, Metso Corporation 2010–2011. President, Mining and Construction Technology, Metso Corporation 2008–2011. President, Metso Minerals 2006–2008. President, Metso Automation, 2001–2006. President, Metso Automation, Field Systems Division 1999–2001. Prior to 1999, various managerial and development positions in Neles-Jamesbury and Rauma-Repola. Chair of the Board of Directors at Kemira 2022–. Chair of the Board of Directors at the Finnish Fair Corporation 2020–2023. Chair of Neste’s Personnel and Remuneration Committee.

John Abbott, member of the Neste Board.

John Abbott

Born 1960

B.Sc. First Class Honours, Chemical Engineering

Member of the Board since 2021

Independent member

Downstream Director and a Member of the Executive Committee of Royal Dutch Shell plc 2013–2019. Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Shell 2012–2013. Executive Vice President of Shell’s Upstream Americas Heavy Oil business, based in Calgary, Canada 2008–2012. Vice President Manufacturing (Refining and Chemicals) Excellence and Support at Shell based in Houston, USA 2006–2008. Various positions at Shell in the UK, Singapore, Thailand, The Netherlands, Canada, and the USA, predominantly in the areas of Global Manufacturing (Refining and Chemicals) as well as Supply, Trading and Distribution 1981–2006. In 1994, he was also seconded to the British Government for a short assignment. Non-Executive Director of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 2018–2021. Senior Non-Executive Director of the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Europe 2021–. Non-Executive Director of ICE Clear Europe 2023–. Advisor and participant at Mobility Impact Partners (MIP) 2020–. Member of Neste’s Audit Committee.

Nick Elmslie, member of the Neste Board.

Nick Elmslie

Born 1957

B.Sc. (Chemistry)

Member of the Board since 2020

Independent member

Chief Executive, BP Global Petrochemicals based in Shanghai 2011–2015. Controller, Head of Finance Function, BP Downstream 2006–2011. Various directorial positions at BP plc., including Chief Executive, Acetyls Business and Business Unit Leader, Head of Chemicals Strategy and CFO, Polymers & Olefins 1992–2006. Various positions at BP plc 1978–1992. Member of the Board and Investor at 3FBio Ltd 2017–, Chair 2023–. Member of the Supervisory Board of OTI Greentech AG 2017–. Member of the Board of Fosroc Group Holdings Limited 2009–. Member of Neste’s Personnel and Remuneration Committee.

Just Jansz, member of the Neste Board.

Just Jansz

Born 1957

Ph.D. (Chemical Metallurgy), M.Sc. (Mineral Engineering)

Member of the Board since 2022

Independent member

Independent board member and advisor 2011–. Managing Director of Expertise Beyond Borders 2011–. President Technology Business, Basell / LyondellBasell 2004–2010. Senior Vice President, Advanced Polyolefins, Basell 2001–2004. Various managerial positions at Shell affiliate companies 1989–2000. Member of the Board at Circular Plastics NL (Dutch National Growth Fund) 2022–2023. Member of Neste’s Audit Committee.

Heikki Malinen, member of the Neste Board.

Heikki Malinen

Born 1962

M.Sc. (Econ.), MBA (Harvard)

Member of the Board since 2023

Independent member

President and CEO, Outokumpu Oyj 2020–. President and CEO, Posti Group Corporation 2012–2019. President and CEO, Pöyry PLC 2008–2012. Executive Vice President, Strategy, member of the Executive Team, UPM-Kymmene Corporation 2006–2008. President, UPM North America 2004–2005. President of Sales, UPM North America 2002–2003. Managing Partner, Jaakko Pöyry Consulting, New York, USA 2000–2001. Several directorial and managerial roles at ie. McKinsey & Co and UPM 1986–1999. Vice Chair, EK, Confederation of Finnish Industries 2023–. Vice Chair, Technology Finland 2023–. Member of Neste’s Personnel and Remuneration Committee.

Eeva Sipilä, Vice Chair of the Neste Board.

Eeva Sipilä

Born 1973

M.Sc. (Econ.), CEFA

Vice Chair of the Board since 2023

Member of the Board since 2022

Independent member

Chief Financial Officer, Deputy to CEO, Metso Corporation 2016–, (Metso Outotec Corporation 2020–2023). Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Cargotec Corporation 2008–2016. Senior Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations, Cargotec Corporation 2005–2008. Various positions at Metso Corporation, Mandatum Stockbrokers part of Sampo Group and Arkwright AB 1997–2005. Supervisory Board Member, Varma, 2021–. Chair of Neste’s Audit Committee.

Johanna Söderström, member of the Neste Board.

Johanna Söderström

Born 1971

M.Sc. (Econ.)

Member of the Board since 2020

Independent member

Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer at Tyson Foods Inc. 2020–. Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer at the Dow Chemical Company 2014–2019. Vice President, Center of Expertise Human Resources at the Dow Chemical Company 2012–2014. Various directorial HR positions at Dow Chemical Company, Dow Europe GmbH and Dow Chemical Handels- und Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH 2007–2012. Head of Global Compensation & Benefits at Huhtamäki Oyj 2006–2007. Various specialist and managerial positions at Dow Europe GmbH, Dow Chemical Handels- und Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH and Dow Suomi Oy 1999–2006. Prior to 1999, various specialist positions at Oy L M Ericsson Ab. Member of Neste’s Personnel and Remuneration Committee.

Kimmo Viertola, member of the Neste Board.

Kimmo Viertola

Born 1961

M.Sc. (Econ.)

Member of the Board since 2023

Non-independent member of the company’s significant shareholder (the State of Finland)

Senior Ministerial Adviser, Financial Affairs, Finnish Ownership Steering Department in the Prime Minister’s Office 10/2023–. Director General, Finnish Ownership Steering Department in the Prime Minister’s Office 10/2018–10/2023. Senior Ministerial Adviser, Financial Affairs, Finnish Ownership Steering Department in the Prime Minister’s Office 1–10/2018. Director, Finnish Industry Investment Ltd (FII) 1998–2017. Director, Price Waterhouse 1995–1998. Several managerial and analyst roles, Industrialisation Fund of Finland, FennoScandia Bank and Skopbank Group 1987–1994. Chair of the Nomination Committee, Finnair 2023–. Member of the Nomination Committee, SSAB 2021–. Board member and member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Fortum 2022–2023. Deputy Chair of the Bureau, OECD Working Party on State Ownership and Privatisation Practices 2020–. Member of Neste’s Audit Committee.

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