Avant Tecno Oy reveals new CEO

There has been a change in generations at Finnish manufacturer Avant Tecno Oy, with Risto Käkelä retiring as CEO and being replaced by family member Jani Käkelä.

Jani has been the Sales and Marketing Director of the company for the past 11 years and has been involved in the company since he was a child.

Jani Käkelä (left) has replaced Risto Käkelä as CEO.

”The company is now in excellent condition and growing strong”, said Risto Käkelä, “During the last 30 years our turnover has fallen only once compared to the previous fiscal year, and not once we have made a loss.

“The new generation will certainly bring a lot of new ideas and thoughts and I’m confident that the growth rate will accelerate further. However, it needs to be remembered that it’s about the state of mind when it comes to success: the urge to be the best.”

New sales director
As replacement for Jani Käkelä, Jukka Kytömäki has also been appointed as the new Sales and Marketing Director.

Jukka Kytömäki has been with the company for the past 10 years, previously serving as the president of Avant Tecno USA.

The firm said Kytömäki “knows the operating environment and the products of Avant very well and transfers to his new position with enthusiasm.”

In addition, managing director of Leguan Lifts Oy, a subsidiary of Avant Tecno, has also changed following the retirement of long-term managing director Antti Otava, who stepped down on 30 September.

He has been replaced by Esa Vuorela, as reported in our sister magazine, Access international. Vuorela has vast experience from different development and management positions in industrial companies, the firm said.