John Peter Leesi
CEO and President
John Peter Leesi became CEO and President of Outokumpu Copper Products in 2005 as it moved into private ownership and began its rebranding and transformation into Luvata.
He has experience of finance and international business strategy, having been Corporate Vice-President of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications and CFO through the recovery of Ericsson Consumer Products since 2001. John Peter was one of the architects behind the Sony Ericsson joint venture. He has held various other roles in Finance, Law, Strategy and IPR as well as serving as intelligence officer in the Swedish Marines. John Peter now lives with his wife and children in London, England.
He was educated in Sweden and the USA and holds a degree in business and international finance as well as certificates in economics, mergers, acquisitions and alliances.
Jyrki Vesaluoma
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Jyrki Vesaluoma joined Luvata as CFO in November 2005. Before that he spent two years as CFO at Metso Paper and several years in a variety finance management positions within the Outokumpu group in both Finland and Germany.
He qualified with an MSc in Economics from the Helsinki School of Economics.
Jyrki lives in the UK with his wife and three children but returns to his Summerhouse in Finland when he can. Before his working career he has played tennis at a national level. He still plays tennis and is a keen skier. As ski slopes can be difficult to find in the UK, he has also taken up golf.
Warren Bartel
Senior Vice-President and Senior Advisor
Warren Bartel has worked for Luvata and Outokumpu in a number of roles in North America, including Senior Vice President for the Americas and President of Outokumpu American Brass. During this time he lead the groups responsible for some major advances for the company, including the development of the technology to produce strip from Upcast, VLS and Micromill, and the expansion of the Formed Products division throughout Europe and into Asia.
Warren holds a BSc from Ohio University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. He is Chairman of the US Copper and Brass Fabricators’ Council Board, an Advisory and Excom Member of the International Copper Association, Technology Committee Chairman of the International Copper Association, a Board Member of the US Copper Development Association and a Board Member of the European Copper Institute. Warren swims daily to stay fit and shoots skeet as a hobby.
Bob Kickham
Senior Vice-President of Procurement
Bob Kickham joined Luvata in 2005. Prior to this he was Chief procurement officer at Diageo and BAT and gained extensive experience in procurement, sales and risk at Syntegra, BT Marine and Vosper Thornycroft. In 2002, the procurement function he created at Diageo was recognised by the UK Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply as “best in class”. With Diageo, as well as managing the Seagrams acquisition, Bob worked on a number of other famous brands including Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff.
Bob is a non-executive director of CPS Color Group OY – a global leader in the development and supply of paint-tinting solutions - and also a member of the Board Of Trustees of SCA. SCA is a UK-based social enterprise whose mission is to improve people’s lives by developing and implementing innovative solutions to health and social care.
Bob graduated with joint honours in History and Economics and has an MBA and a Diploma in Consultancy from Lancaster and Bournemouth Universities and Henley Management College. He is a member of the Institute of Purchase and Supply and a Fellow of the Institute of Logistics. He lives in the UK with his wife and two children and enjoys tennis, sailing, reading and cooking.
Fredrik Vejgarden
Senior Vice-President of Operational Excellence
Fredrik Vejgarden joined Luvata in February 2006 when he was lured away from McKinsey & Company. While at McKinsey he spent most of his time working in operational areas such as LEAN Manufacturing and procurement for a diverse range of industries including steel, banking and healthcare.
Fredrik has an MSc in Industrial Management and Engineering from the University of Linkoping in Sweden. His interest in engineering was undoubtedly inspired by his previous career as a carpenter, where his passion for operational excellence was nurtured.
Fredrik lives in Sweden with his wife and son and, when he isn’t working or indulging his interest in carpentry, he has found time to compete in the Gotland Grand National, the world’s biggest motorcycle race.
Justin Roux
Senior Vice-President of Communications
Justin Roux became Senior Vice-President of Communications for Luvata Group in early 2006. He has worked in the engineering industry since 1989 and, following nine years of international assignments in offshore, petrochemicals and metal production, became a consultant to the engineering information-software industry.
In parallel with his career, Justin has worked in journalism since 1990. He united both careers by founding the Wordsmithery communications partnership and then becoming Head of Marketing at AVEVA Group in 2001. He has been the editor of several publications and has written for EU Vision, The Lonely Planet, The Howard Hughes Foundation, the British press and many worldwide industry journals. Justin is the Chairman of the Communications Committee of the European Copper Institute, a member of the European Association of Communication Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Reading. He is a seasoned speaker and heartfelt believer in responsible social culture and the profession of engineering. Justin never stops writing unless he is playing guitar, inventing things or riding his motorcycle.
Carl-Michael Raihle
Executive Vice-President, Head of Rolled Products (Production)
Carl-Michael Raihle joined Luvata as Chief Technology Officer in November 2005. Prior to this he worked in a number of Outokumpu companies in Sweden and the US, working his way up from research engineer to CTO between 1995 and 2006. His experience in metal production is extensive, having worked in Research and Development, process automation, and strategy development as well as being responsible for Luvata’s environmental policies.
Carl-Michael has a doctorate in Materials Process Technology, which he studied at the Royal Technical College in Stockholm. Following his doctorate, he stayed on a further two years to work on research projects in partnership with the Swedish Metal industry.
He is married with four children, and when not working relaxes by sailing, taking photographs and riding his motorcycle.
Jerker Adeberg
Executive Vice-President, Head of Rolled Products (Sales and Marketing)
Jerker Adeberg is the most recent addition to the senior team, having joined Luvata in October 2006.
Jerker previously worked for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Canada, AB Volvo, Electrolux AB, Reebok Scandinavia AB, AB Wilh. Becker and Snickers Europe AB. These roles, the last three as MD (President), has have taken him all over the world for more then 25 years. In less than a year, he transformed the Swedish franchise of Reebok Scandinavia into a success story that was incorporated into Reebok International. Perhaps, as a result of this, he has a passion for implementing change and turning around struggling businesses. He is currently exercising his entrepreneurial skills as part-owner and board member of a international wallpaper company based in Sweden.
Jerker graduated in 1978 from Stockholm School of Economics with a degree in Business Administration with emphasis on International Marketing. He lives in Sweden with his wife and three sons. He keeps in shape through skiing, golf and running.
Hannu Wahlroos
Executive Vice-President, Head of Heat Transfer Solutions
Hannu Wahlroos has spent his entire career working for Luvata and Outokumpu. He therefore has a unique insight into Luvata culture across many different divisions and different regions. He has worked in research, quality, production, engineering, product management, and sales and as a general manager of Outokumpu Pori tube mill. He moved to China to manage a newly established tube mill in Zhongshan in October 1997. After ramping up the tube mill in China he has been leading the whole of the Heat Transfer Solutions Division since the year 2000.
Hannu has an MSc in Metallurgy from the Tampere University of Technology. He currently lives in Pocenia, Italy with his wife and one son while the two older children are already back in Finland. Outside of work his main hobby is hiking.
Jussi Helavirta
Executive Vice-President, Head of Special Products
Jussi Helavirta joined Luvata in 2000. Before becoming Vice-President of the Special Products Division he worked as Division Head of the European region. Prior to Luvata, he worked in a variety of organisations including 12 years in Metso in the US and Canada where he implemented a revolutionary global production system, which made significant improvements to the paper machinery supply chain. He was also qualified to assess and audit company quality systems according Malcolm Balridge criteria. Prior to Metso he worked in Machinery Oy as sales director meeting suppliers for Finnish metalworking companies around the world especially in Japan, at Fiskars as production manager and Tamrock as project manager of state of the art Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS). In early stage of his career Jussi has participated several team building and leadership courses for example in Yale University.
Jussi has an MSc in Workshop Technology and Industrial Economics from the University of Tampere.
He lives in Finland with his wife and two sons and is on the board of the Pori Chamber of Commerce. He is a huge fan of ice hockey and, as well as scoring goals for Luvata, is on the board of his local team playing on the Finnish national league.
Ron Beal
Executive Vice-President, Head of ACR Tubes
Ron Beal has over 20 years of experience with Luvata and, previously, Outokumpu. His hands-on experience in the cross-functional areas of sales, marketing, engineering and manufacture, as well as his position as President/General Manager of the facility in Franklin, Kentucky have served him well in the strategic expansion of Luvata’s worldwide ACR Tubes business. He holds a Bachelors degree in Science from the College of Wooster as well a Masters in Business Administration from Ashland University. Ron currently resides in Bowling Green, Kentucky with his wife and two children. When not working, Ron can be found on the golf course or volunteering as a coach for the local youth leagues.