Karsten Slotte appointed President of Fazer Group
M.B.A. Karsten Slotte (54) takes up the position of President of Fazer Group as of 1 November 2007. His previous position was Executive Vice President Of Fazer Group. Berndt Brunow is leaving Slotte with a profitable company which offers meals, bakery products and confectionery. Berndt Brunow, who has led Fazer Group since 2002, was appointed member of the Board of Directors of Fazer in the last Shareholders’ Meeting. He will continue as Fazer Group’s representative in the board of Cloetta Fazer, and will be Fazer’s candidate for the same assignment in the future as well.
”I want to express my warmest thanks to Berndt Brunow. He has done a brilliant job reshaping Fazer Group, and has led the company to the road of profitable growth. During his leadership, Fazer Group has successfully carried out its growth and development strategy. The Group’s financial position is strong, both turnover and profit continue to grow. The job swap, which we agreed upon when Berndt Brunow proposed Karsten Slotte as the new Executive Vice President of the Group, will now come true. Slotte will take on a healthy and dynamic company. I believe his know-how and background are excellent for managing the present Fazer,” says Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fazer Group Carl G. Björnberg.
In July 2007, Fazer Group’s cumulative turnover was EUR 646.5 million (581.2 in July 2006). The contribution of business operations towards the Group’s operating profit in 1 January−31 July 2007 was EUR 13.4 million (9.5 in July 2006). The company’s turnover is expected to increase by 10 percent in 2007 (EUR 1,068.7 million in 2006). The contribution of business operations toward the Group’s operating profit in 2006 was EUR 32.1 million, growth being nearly 40 per cent compared to 2005. The Group’s operating profit for year 2007 as a whole is expected to be notably greater than in 2006.
Under Berndt Brunow’s management, a strategy was created for the Group that is focused on profitable growth, developing the organisation and competence, creating a joint corporate identity and better utilisation of the brands, as well as operational efficiency. The Group has developed according to objectives in these areas.
”We are able to rise to the challenges we face in the near future. We will need to react even more often and faster to the changes in our environment, rising prices of raw materials, fiercer competition and changes in consumer habits. Also, the availability of professional staff is a big challenge for our business. Skilful and committed personnel is a prerequisite for our operations. I greatly value the fact that I have been able to familiarise myself with the company business under the guidance of Berndt Brunow. This is a good place to start,” Karsten Slotte describes.
Karsten Slotte started as Fazer Group’s Executive Vice President in January 2007. Before that, Slotte was President of Cloetta Fazer AB (publ). He has extensive experience in the confectionery and bakery businesses, amongst others as the CEO of Fazer Makeiset Oy and Vaasan Mylly Oy / Cultor Oy. Karsten Slotte is also a board member of Onninen Oy and HKScan Oyj.