Kari Salminen will take over as President and CEO of Walki Group on 1 January 2027. He succeeds Leif Frilund, who will retire at the end of 2026.
(Source: Walki)
Kari Salminen will take over as President and CEO of Walki Group on 1 January 2027. He succeeds Leif Frilund, who will retire at the end of 2026 after 19 years at the helm. Timo Saahko will assume responsibility for the Packaging Materials business area on 1 October 2026.
Salminen is currently Deputy CEO and Executive Vice President of the Packaging Materials business area. During the fourth quarter of 2026, he will work with Frilund to prepare the leadership handover.
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Reflecting on his upcoming retirement, Frilund points to Walki’s transformation from a manufacturer of standard industrial packaging into a provider of packaging and material solutions for customers including food brands and retailers. “After many rewarding years, I have decided that the time is right to hand over the leadership of Walki to a new generation,” says Frilund.
Despite ongoing challenges, Salminen sees a basis for further growth. He expects improving market conditions to support the company’s development during the remainder of 2026 and in 2027.
Saahko returns to Walki
Timo Saahko joins Walki from Mölnlycke Health Care Oy, where he has served as Managing Director for the past ten years. Before that, he held various positions at Walki in Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Finland and Poland.
As Executive Vice President, Saahko will take over responsibility for Packaging Materials from Salminen. His experience at Mölnlycke includes leadership, continuous improvement and strengthening competitiveness. “I look forward to bringing this experience to Walki and working together to translate strategy into results,” says Saahko.
