Matti Lehmus appointed as President and CEO of Neste as of 1 May 2022
Stock Exchange Release, Insider Information, 23 March 2022 at 8.00 a.m. (EET)
Neste Corporation’s Board of Directors has appointed Matti Lehmus (born 1974) as President and CEO as of 1 May 2022. He succeeds Peter Vanacker, who will hold the position until 30 April 2022.
Matti Lehmus holds a M. Sc. in chemical engineering and an eMBA. He joined Neste in 1998, and has held several key leadership positions during his career in both the oil products business and renewables. He has been a member of the Neste Executive Committee since 2009, and currently serves as Executive Vice President, Renewables Platform.
“The Board of Directors commenced an international recruitment process immediately after Peter Vanacker’s resignation in December last year. The Board has carefully evaluated several candidates for their suitability to lead Neste’s next steps in delivering profitable growth. I am pleased to note that we found an excellent internal successor who is very well equipped to take over the role,” says Matti Kähkönen, the Chair of Neste’s Board of Directors.
“Matti Lehmus has the right experience and expertise to continue executing Neste’s proven growth strategy of becoming a global leader in renewable and circular solutions. His proven track record of major investment projects and M&A, along with his solid leadership and interpersonal skills, will be an excellent combination to ensure Neste’s further success,” continues Kähkönen.
“I have been deeply involved in a number of strategic decisions on Neste’s transformation journey, including the establishment of a production joint venture in the US, our Singapore expansion and the planning for a possible next capacity increase investment in Rotterdam. I am very pleased to take the helm at a moment when we are well on our way in the execution phase of our growth strategy, and I am looking forward to continuing our success story together with all my Neste colleagues in the Executive Committee and around the world. I want to thank the Board of Directors for the trust they have placed in me. I am excited about this opportunity to lead a company and people I know well and care about very much,” says Matti Lehmus.
“On behalf of Neste’s Board of Directors, I want to thank Peter Vanacker for his excellent work in making Neste a global leader in renewable and circular solutions. During his time as the CEO, the company has made major investments, expanded its geographical reach and increased the diversity of our personnel. Neste is in a very strong financial position and well prepared for its future expansion. I want to wish Peter all the best in his next role,” says Matti Kähkönen.
“It has been a privilege and pleasure to serve Neste for the past three and a half years. I am very glad that I will be able to pass the baton to my successor and trusted colleague in a smooth and organized transition process in the coming weeks,” says Peter Vanacker, Neste’s President and CEO.
Invitation to media event
Neste will arrange a media event, with the possibility to join virtually, about the appointment of the new President and CEO today, Wednesday, 23 March 2022 at 11.00 am (EET) in Finnish.
We will hold the event at Neste Headquarters (address: Keilaranta 21, Espoo) and there is also a possibility to join the event virtually. Media representatives are invited to participate in the briefing by sending their information (participant’s name, email address and the name of the media) in advance to Neste’s media service at media@neste.com, who will in response provide the meeting link for joining virtually.
Present at the event will be Neste’s Chair of the Board Matti Kähkönen, Matti Lehmus, and Peter Vanacker.
CV and photo of Matti Lehmus are attached to this release.
Neste Corporation
Board of Directors
Further information: Matti Kähkönen, Chair of the Board of Directors. Please contact Neste's media service, tel. +358 800 94025 / media@neste.co
Neste in brief
Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials. We are the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. Our ambition is to make the Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030. We are introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as liquefied waste plastic as refinery raw materials. We have committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035, and we will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. We also have set high standards for biodiversity, human rights and supply chain. We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2021, Neste's revenue stood at EUR 15.1 billion. Read more: neste.com
