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:
67,450 shares


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:
6,688 shares

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:
– shares


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:
62,050 shares1


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:
174,800 shares


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:
67,823 shares



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:
1,000 shares


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

Note: ; 1Through JG Management AB, a company controlled by Juan Garcia; 2 Through Tailor Made Global Investment AB, a company controlled by Jon Strand.