Published December 15, 2021
Simo Sääskilahti, CFO of Neles, Appointed as Interim President and CEO Beginning January 1, 2022.

Neles’ board of directors has appointed CFO Simo Sääskilahti as Neles’ interim president and CEO beginning January 1, 2022. The current president and CEO Olli Isotalo will continue in the role until December 31, 2021.
The merger between Valmet and Neles is planned to take place on or before April 1, 2022, once the necessary merger control approvals by the relevant competition authorities are obtained. In the merged company, Neles is planned to be organized as an independent organizational entity called Flow Control Business Line.
Valmet Oyj disclosed on October 26, 2021, that Olli Isotalo has announced his wish to retire from his current duties upon the successful completion of the Valmet-Neles merger, and that Simo Sääskilahti will head the future Flow Control Business Line as of the completion of the merger process.
“I want to thank Olli for his strong leadership and contribution to Neles,” said Jaakko Eskola, chair of Neles’ board of directors. “He has built a strong team, and together they executed a strategy to profitably grow the Neles business to the next level. I wish Olli all the best in his future endeavors.”
The upcoming Valve Forum: Conference & Exhibits will open with a timely and wide-ranging discussion on the state of the industrial valve industry, as leaders from across the value chain convene for the General Session on Monday, April 13 at The Westin in The Woodlands, Texas.
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Scholarships are awarded to VMA member company dependents studying engineering or manufacturing.
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The event, April 13-15, is taking place in Greater Houston and draws attendees from all over the U.S. and Canada.
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