Casemet Oy's CEO Jukka Kokkonen retires

Jukka Kokkonen, CEO of Casemet Oy, who has had a long and impressive career in management and development positions in the manufacturing industry, will retire at the beginning of 2024. Sanna Vihersalo has been appointed as Casemet's new CEO as of 1.1.2024.

Jukka Kokkonen's career has included many events, people, challenges and successes. He jumped straight out of vocational school at the turn of the 80s, when a newly graduated young man was offered the opportunity to work in a position corresponding to his training as a tool manufacturer. "Along the way, there have been many great challenges and opportunities on my path, which I have bravely taken on since my first work duties. Courage and enthusiasm to do my best have always taken me forward," Jukka ponders as he looks back on his career and its phases. His desire to develop his own skills has also opened new doors during his career. Along with work life, Jukka has studied first as a technician and later on as a production and financial engineer. Whenever he has had the opportunity to educate himself further or learn something new, Jukka has eagerly taken part.

Photo: Fair atmosphere from 1998. Jukka Kokkonen (left) presenting electrical products. Source: Ensto News 4/98.

Jukka "Kokis" Kokkonen has been the CEO of Casemet since the company was founded in 2016. However, entrepreneurship has been on the road since the 90s, when Jukka founded his first company, JK Tools. In 2011, he and his partners bought Mikemet Oy, and shortly thereafter, in 2016, Casemet Oy was founded through the acquisition of Ensto's Mikkeli factory. Mikemet was later merged with Casemet.

Casemet's growth story is significant to Jukka in many ways. "Casemet's development and growth have been one of the greatest things in my career. We have been able to innovate, expand and create new jobs," says Jukka. Entrepreneurship has also included challenging moments when Kokkonen as an entrepreneur has had to make decisions that seem heavy. "In order to continuously improve your business, you sometimes have to make big decisions. However, all solutions have created more opportunities for us and, in the long run, brought growth. These successes, in turn, feed more new successes," Jukka ponders.

His career also includes important colleagues, some of whom have been on the journey with him for a long time. In the picture, a programme number of Christmas party is performed by (left.) Sami Tulus and (right.) Jukka Kokkonen. "We have been cooperating with Sami Tulus for decades. Sami has been an important mentor for me over the years," says Jukka.

A little foolhardy, a little impatient, enthusiastic, fast-paced, athletic. These are the adjectives with which Jukka is often described. When you add to this his desire to learn new things and to build and develop a business, a great and impressive career has been born. Now that retirement is imminent, Jukka's overriding feeling is gratitude. "I feel very grateful for the great years of work, colleagues, opportunities and challenges," says Jukka. "I feel like after a great athletic performance. I have given my all, and now is the right moment to move to follow the events a little more from the sidelines. With confidence, I pass the responsibility on to younger talents - now is their time to set new records," continues cheerful Jukka.

Photo: Jukka Kokkonen at Casemet Mikkeli factory. "In addition to the duties of the chairman of the board, the future includes time with family, friends and sports hobbies," reflects Jukka.

Jukka Kokkonen will start as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Casemet Oy as of 1.1.2024. Sami Tulus, Niklas Skogster, Mikko Ahonen and Aki Hyyryläinen will continue as ordinary members of the Board of Directors. Sanna Vihersalo has been appointed as the new CEO of Casemet Oy as of 1.1.2024.