CEO and the Management Team
Arni Ekholm
M.Sc. (Int. Marketing) (b. 1964, Finnish)
Group CEO
Member of the Management Team since 2015
Primary work experience:
Over 30 years’ experience in various leadership roles within international corporations, e.g. Olympus and Gillette Group
Relais Group shares and options:
67,450 shares
40,000 options
Johan Carlos
(b. 1990, Swedish)
Managing Director, Strands Group AB
Member of the Management Team since August 2022
Primary work experience:
Managing Director of Strands Group since 2017 and prior to that had various positions in sales and marketing at the company since 2010
Relais Group shares and options:
6,688 shares
16,000 options
Thomas Ekström
M.Sc. (Econ.) (b. 1967, Finnish)
Group CFO
Member of the Management Team since April 2023
Primary work experience:
Over 20 years’ experience in CFO and financial manager roles, e.g. Rettig Group, Marimekko, Algol and M-real (currently Metsä Board).
Relais Group shares and options:
– shares
14,500 options
Juan Garcia
(b. 1970, Swedish)
Regional Managing Director Scandinavia, PMO
Member of the Management Team since 2019
CEO at ABR 2011–2022, CEO at Huzells 2017–2020, previously e.g. 11 years at Freudenberg Group
Relais Group shares and options:
62,050 shares1
27,500 options
Ville Mikkonen
(b. 1977, Finnish)
Managing Director Finland and Baltic
Member of the Management Team since 2019
Primary work experience:
Various management positions at Startax since 2007
Over 20 years’ experience from automotive aftermarket
Relais Group shares and options:
174,800 shares
12,500 options
Jan Popov
LLM (b. 1989, Finnish)
Managing Director, Raskone Oy
Member of the Management Team since August 2022
Primary work experience:
CEO at Raskone since 2018
previously M&A lawyer at Eversheds Sutherland
Relais Group shares and options:
67,823 shares
22,500 options
Sebastian Seppänen
BSc. (Finance) (b.1990, Finnish)
Director M&A and Business Development
Member of the Management Team since August 2022
Primary work experience:
M&A Manager, Tietoevry Oyj (2021–2022)
Investment banker, Evli Plc (2014–2021)
Relais Group shares and options:
1,000 shares
12,500 options
Jon Strand
(b. 1976, Swedish)
Director Marketing and Sales Development (interim)
Interim member of the Management Team since August 2022
Primary work experience:
Founder of Strands Group and CEO of the company from 2002 to 2017. Since then, Jon has continued investment and entrepreneurial activities.
Relais Group shares:
382,163 shares 2
Juri Viitaniemi
LL.M. (b. 1988, Finnish)
Director Compliance, Legal and HR
Member of the Management Team since May 2024
Primary work experience:
Viitaniemi has previously acted as an attorney at Roschier and Eversheds Sutherland. He has also experience of acting as a lawyer in various Finnish public companies.
Relais Group shares:
0 shares
Note: ; 1Through JG Management AB, a company controlled by Juan Garcia; 2 Through Tailor Made Global Investment AB, a company controlled by Jon Strand.