Kari Luoto appointed Managing Director of the Finnish Commerce Federation
The Board of the Finnish Commerce Federation has appointed Kari Luoto as Managing Director of the Federation as of 2 April 2024. Luoto currently serves as Managing Director of the Finnish Grocery Trade Association.
Kari Luoto (EMBA, b. 1968) has been working as Managing Director of the Finnish Grocery Trade Association since 2012. The Finnish Grocery Trade Association is a member of the Finnish Commerce Federation, and the cooperation between the unions has been close and diverse for a long time. Previously, Luoto has worked, among other things, as Marketing Director and Account Director of Suomen Lähikauppa Oy, and as Marketing Director of Tradeka Oy.
“Commerce is the largest sector in trade and industry measured in gross domestic product and it creates well-being, success and work all over Finland. Kari Luoto has strong and diverse competence and experience in both commercial business and management positions looking after the interests of the sector. He has strong proof of leadership and the achievement of results, and his appointment provides excellent opportunities to develop the operating conditions and societal significance of the commerce sector, as well as a responsible and flexible working life,” says Jorma Rauhala, President and CEO of Kesko Corporation and Chairman of the Board of the Finnish Commerce Federation.
“I am very excited about the new assignment and I welcome it with great interest. I am ready to bring my own input and experience to the success of the entire commerce sector. Finnish commerce is in a challenging situation as part of fierce international competition and an uncertain economic environment that is reflected in the activities of consumers and businesses. The commerce sector plays a key role in Finnish society, and the views of commerce must be heard and taken into account extensively,” says Kari Luoto.
The current Managing Director of the Finnish Commerce Federation, Mari Kiviniemi, will continue in the Federation until 1 April 2024.
For further information, please contact:
Jorma Rauhala, Chairman of the Board of the Finnish Commerce Federation, President and CEO of Kesko Corporation
Contacts: Pia Pere-Vanhanen, Director of Communications and Sustainability, Finnish Commerce Federation, pia.pere-vanhanen(at)kauppa.fi, tel. +358 (0) 40 867 1708
Kari Luoto, Managing Director of the Finnish Commerce Federation (from 2 April 2024), kari.luoto(at)pty.fi, +358 (0) 40 068 8708
