Ilkka Poikolainen appointed President and CEO of Posiva
Posiva Oy's Board of Directors has appointed Ilkka Poikolainen, MSc (Eng.), as the President and CEO of Posiva as of 1 November 2023. Mr. Poikolainen, 48, transfers to Posiva from the position of Vice President for Production Technology at Metsä Fibre.
- It is an honour to take over the leadership and global development of this extremely unique company and its operations, in cooperation with Posiva's organisation. Posiva is at a significant stage, preparing to start the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel in the next few years. Responsibility is the word that describes Posiva and its role as the world's leading final disposal operator, and it is great to become part of this work based on responsibility. I wish to thank Posiva's Board of Directors for the trust they have shown in me by this appointment, Mr. Poikolainen says.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Posiva, TVO's President and CEO Jarmo Tanhua welcomes the new CEO as the leader of the important project.
- As one part of the life cycle of nuclear power, Posiva plays a significant role in the fight against climate change. Posiva will soon be moving over from the construction stage to the commencement of actual production operation, and the new President and CEO will be in charge of this challenge, Mr. Tanhua says.
According to Poikolainen, the long-term efforts of Posiva's personnel for both defining and implementing the concept for the final disposal of spent fuel have been of a high standard.
- In the upcoming years, the main objective will be to finalise the solutions required at the implementation stage of the concept and to start in Olkiluoto the responsible final disposal of the spent fuel generated at the nuclear power plants of Posiva's owners. The extremely high level of expertise in Posiva's organisation is manifested in various services which are marketed globally to nuclear power companies, Poikolainen explains.
Janne Mokka, Posiva Oy's previous President and CEO, moved to new challenges during the summer of 2023. The position of Posiva's President and CEO is at present temporarily fulfilled by Tiina Jalonen, in addition to her duties as the Company's Senior Vice President for Development.
Ilkka Poikolainen / career in brief:
2021 – the present: Vice President for Production Technology at Metsä Fibre
2018-2021: Mill Director, Metsä Fibre Bioproduct Mill, Äänekoski
2013-2017: Mill Director, Metsä Fibre Rauma Pulp Mill
Posiva Oy is the leading final disposal operator in the world, preparing to start in mid-2020’s the final disposal of the spent nuclear fuel generated by its owners TVO and Fortum Power and Heat Oy in the ONKALO®facility excavated deep in the bedrock. The Finnish Government granted Posiva the construction licence for the final disposal facility in 2015. The same operating licence process that is required in the construction projects of nuclear power facilities will also need to be carried out prior to the start of the actual final disposal of spent fuel.
