Personnel

Janne Poranen

Chief Executive Officer from 2025
Chair and Member of the Board since 2022
Co-founder of the company
Born 1972
PhD in Physics
Finnish citizen
Not independent of the company, independent of major shareholders
Company shareholding: 2 663 030 shares and 8 000 2020 B options (Each 2020 B option entitles to subscribe to 30 shares)

Work history 

  • CEO at Spinnova Plc from 2025-
  • CEO at Spinnova Plc between 2014 and 2022
  • Principal Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2014 and 2015 
  • Head of Research Area, Fibres and Biobased Materials at VTT Technical Research Centre of  Finland Ltd during 2014 
  • Technology Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2006 and 2013 
  • Key Account Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd during 2006 
  • Group Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2005 and 2006 
  • Deputy Group Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2002 and  2004 
  • Team Leader, VTT Processes, Fluid Dynamics Team at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd during 2002 
  • Senior Researcher, VTT Processes at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2001 and 2002 
  • Expatriate, VTT Processes (University of Maine, Department of Chemical Engineering) at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd during 2001 
  • Research, VTT Energy at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 1999 and 2001 
  • Researcher positions at the University of Jyväskylä during 1997

Janne Poranen

Chief Executive Officer from 2025
Chair and Member of the Board since 2022
Co-founder of the company
Born 1972
PhD in Physics
Finnish citizen
Not independent of the company, independent of major shareholders
Company shareholding: 2 663 030 shares and 8 000 2020 B options (Each 2020 B option entitles to subscribe to 30 shares)

Work history 

  • CEO at Spinnova Plc from 2025-
  • CEO at Spinnova Plc between 2014 and 2022
  • Principal Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2014 and 2015 
  • Head of Research Area, Fibres and Biobased Materials at VTT Technical Research Centre of  Finland Ltd during 2014 
  • Technology Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2006 and 2013 
  • Key Account Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd during 2006 
  • Group Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2005 and 2006 
  • Deputy Group Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2002 and  2004 
  • Team Leader, VTT Processes, Fluid Dynamics Team at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd during 2002 
  • Senior Researcher, VTT Processes at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 2001 and 2002 
  • Expatriate, VTT Processes (University of Maine, Department of Chemical Engineering) at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd during 2001 
  • Research, VTT Energy at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd between 1999 and 2001 
  • Researcher positions at the University of Jyväskylä during 1997

Carlos Aníbal de Almeida Jr.

Member of the Board of since 2025
Born 1969
Brazilian citizen
B.Sd. (Electrical Engineering), MBA
Not independent of the company and its major shareholders

Work history 

  • Executive Vice President, Forestry & Procurement at Suzano since 2021
  • Executive Director of Pulp Marketing & Sales, Logistics and Supplies between 2019 and 2021
  • Executive Director, “P&L” Cellulose at Suzano between 2016 and 2019
  • Executive Director of Marketing & Sales, Pulp and Paper Business Unit at Suzano between 2014 and 2016
  • Executive Director of Marketing & Sales, Paper Business Unit at Suzano between 2008 and 2014
  • Executive Sales and Commercial Planning Manager, Pulp Business Unit at Suzano between 2003 and 2008
  • General Sales Manager for Latin America in the Industrial Systems Division at General Electric Company of Brazil between 2002 and 2003
  • Various positions at General Electric Company between 1993 and 2002

Positions of trust

  • Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors at Lenzing Group since 2024

Tuomas Oijala

Chief Executive Officer from 2023
Born 1985
Master of Science (Engineering)
Finnish and United States citizen
Company shareholding: 16 534 shares and 0 options

Work history

  • Senior Vice President, New Building Solutions, KONE Plc 7/2023-12/2023
  • Head of Volume Elevator Business, KONE Plc 1/2023-7/2023
  • Managing Director, KONE Denmark 
  • Various positions at Kone Plc during 2008-2017

Harri Sundvik

Deputy Chair of the Board since 2022; Member of the Board of since 2021; Member of the Audit Committee
Born 1957
British and Finnish citizen
Master’s in Business Administration
Independent of the company and its major shareholders

Company shareholding: 0 shares and 1 250 2020 B options (held by COBL UK Ltd, a company controlled by Sundvik). (Each 2020 B option entitles to subscribe to 30 shares.)

Work history

  • Managing Director of Investment Banking at JPMorgan between 1987 and 2006 (London)
  • Vice Chair, Managing Director of Global Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch between 2006 and 2016 (London)

Positions of trust

  • Chair at Aurion Machining Technologies Oy (Sustainable machining) since 2020
  • Chair at ICS Oy (Solar energy technology) since 2019
  • Chair of Dassiet Oy (Sustainable materials & technologies) since 2022

Allan Andersen

Chief Sales Officer
Member of the Management Team since 2022

Born 1973
Danish citizen

Company shareholding: 0 shares and 100 000 2022 A2 options and 100 000 2022 B2 options

Work history

  • Director of Sales, EMEA Distributors & Golf Specialty, 2019–2022
  • Director, Go-to-Market & Commercial Optimization, 2018–2019
  • Chief of Staff, Global Revenue of Under Armour between 2016–2018 
  • Director, International Business Development of Under Armour between 2013–2016
  • Sales Director, Latin America of Adidas Latin America S.A. between 2010–2013
  • Head of Latin Excellence Project of Adidas Latin America S.A. between 2006–2010
  • Senior Key Account Manager of Adidas Latin America S.A. between 2004–2006
  • Product Manager of Adidas Nordic between 2001–2004

Petri Kalliokoski

Deputy Chair, Member of the Board of since 2023, Member of the Audit Committee
Born 1975
Finnish citizen
Master of Science (ICT)
Independent of the company and its major shareholders
Company shareholding: 5 800 shares

Work history

  • CEO & Entrepreneur, High Metal Oy 2/2018 –
  • Deputy CEO at VTT between 2016 and 2018
  • Executive Vice President (ICT & Electronics) at VTT between 2014 and 2018
  • Senior Vice President (Strategy & Business Development) at VTT between 2010 and 2013
  • CEO VTT International (part-time) at VTT between 2010 and 2015
  • Vice President (Innovation) at VTT between 2006 and 2009
  • Team Leader (Industrial Management) at VTT between 2002 and 2005
  • Research positions at VTT between 1999 and 2001
  • Technical Sales (part-time), Etherma Scandinavia Oy between 1997 and 1998

Positions of trust

  • Chair, SPL Company Oy, ukko.fi (Fintech and SaaS software) 2018 –
  • Member of the Board at Business Finland, 2024 –
  • Chair, mcare Group Oy (Mobile devices lifecycle services) 2018 – 2023
  • Chair, The Warming Surfaces Company Oy (start-up) 2023 –
  • Member, Innovestor Group Oy (Venture capital, real estate) 2020 –
  • Chair of the Board at Mielipalvelut Oy (Therapy services) between 2021 and 2023
  • Chair of the Board at Innovestor Ventures Oy (Venture capital) between 2018 and 2021
  • Vice Chair of the Board at Energent Oy (Air ventilation equipments) between 2015 and 2021
  • Vice Chair of the Board at SopValm Oy (Manufacturing services) between 2015 and 2019
  • Chair & Vice Chair of the Board at Makron Group Oy (Machinery workshop) between 2010 and 2019
  • Member, Gasera Oy (Measurement Devices) between 2018 and 2019
  • Chair of the Board at VTT Ventures Oy (Venture capital) between 2012 and 2018
  • Chair of the Board at VTT Expert Services Oy (currently Eurofins Oy) between 2016 and 2018
  • Member of the Board at DIMECC Oy between 2016 and 2018
  • Member of the Board at Technology Industries of Finland 2021 –
  • Member of the Board at Research Impact Foundation 2018 –
  • Vice Chair of the Board at the New Work Association 2021
  • Deputy member of the Board at Technology Industries of Finland between 2018 and 2020
  • Chair of the Board at ICT Labs Helsinki between 2015 and 2017

Santeri Heinonen

Chief Finance (CFO) and People Officer
Member of the Management Team since 2023
Born 1974
Finnish citizen
Master of Science (Economics)
Company shareholding: 15 648 shares

Work experience:

  • Chief Finance (CFO) and People Officer, 2025
  • Chief HR Officer, Spinnova Oyj, 2023-2025
  • Senior Manager, Global Talent Development, Valmet Oyj, 2013-2023
  • Manager, Compensation & Benefits, Metso Shared Services Oy, 2009-2012
  • HR Controller, Metso Paper Oy, 2005-2009
  • Business accounting, Global Service Operations, Metso Paper Oy, 2003-2004
  • Various HR roles, Metso Paper Oy, 2000-2003

Shahriare Mahmood

Chief Product and Sustainability Officer
Member of the Management Team since 2021
Born 1976
Finnish and Bangladeshi citizen
Doctor of Science (Tech)
Company shareholding: 5 968 shares, 3 000 2018 options, 55 000 2022 A3 options and 55 000 2022 B3 options (each 2018 option entitles to subscribe to 30 shares and each 2022 option entitles to subscribe to 1 share)

Work history

  • R&D and Sustainability Director, Reima, 2016-2020
  • Production Manager, Environmental and REACH Coordinator, MASI Company Oy, 2009-2016
  • Production Manager, MASI Company AS, 2007-2009
  • Production Manager, Sangar Valga Vabrik AS, (Estonia), 2004-2006
  • Factory Manager, Opex Group, Kanchpur, Dhaka (Bangladesh), 2003-2004
  • Project Manager, Unique Group, Gazipur, Dhaka (Bangladesh), 2002–2003
  • Sales Engineer, Greenmac International Pte Ltd, Dhaka (Bangladesh), 2001-2002
  • Production Engineer, Imperial Group, Hariharpara, Fatullah, Narayanganj (Bangladesh), 1999-2001