Ilkka Hämälä will be the new Chairman of Cepi, the Confederation of the Paper and Pulp Industry

Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group, has been appointed the new Chairman of Cepi, the European Confederation of the Paper and Pulp Industry as of January 1, 2022. Hämälä's mandate will last for two years.

Cepi is an influential trade association which represents 500 companies in the forest and bio-based sector operating more than 890 pulp and paper mills across Europe and directly employing 180,000 people through 18 national associations. Cepi represents the forest industry in the various EU institutions with the aim of improving the competitiveness of the European forest industry.

"The European forest industry produces wood-based products for people's daily lives. The strong forest industry contributes to the wellbeing of the entire continent. Our task is to ensure that the sustainability of the wood-based products and the forest industry, as well as the industry's social significance are understood in EU decision-making, "says Ilkka Hämälä.