Elenia's Management Team
Tapani Liuhala
CEO
CEO, Elenia
Board member since 2012
Tapani joined the company in 1990 and is the CEO of Elenia Networks and a member of the Elenia Networks Board. Tapani is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kiinteistö Oy Forssan Aleksi 6 and a member of the Board of Financelitas Oy. Tapani held various managerial positions at Vattenfall Verkko Oy including Head of Networks Finland, Assistant Managing Director and Manger of Customer Relations. Tapani holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Harri Happonen
CIO
CIO, Chief Information Officer, Elenia Oy
Born 1970, Doctor of Science (Tech.)
Unit Manager, Digital Services Elenia Oy 2020-2021, Manager New Earning Logics Cargotec Finland Oy 2017-2020, Member of the Board Quva Oy 2016-2018, Chief Production Officer Executive Vice President Fimlab Laboratories 2014-2017, Chief Project Officer Fimlab Laboratories 2014, Director Partner Business Metso Automation 2012-2014, Director Product Management Metso Automation 2007-2012, Program Manager Business and Technology Development Metso Automation 2005-2007, Expert and project management tasks within industrial IT and automation 1995-2004.
Marianne Kihlman
CPO
CPO, Chief People Officer, Elenia Oy
Born 1956, Holds M.Sc. (Eng.), Process Engineering
Head of Human Resources Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2006 – 2011, Manager, Human Resources BU Vattenfall Distribution Finland 2003 – 2006, Manager, Human Resources Infosto Oy 2001 – 2002, Manager, Human Resources Infosto Mediat Oy 2000 – 2001, Manager, Human Resources Infosto Oy 1998 – 2000, Manager, Quality and Personnel Development Infosto Oy 1995 – 1997.
Jarkko Kohtala
CPCO
CPCO, Chief Procurement and Construction Officer, Elenia Oy
Born 1972, Holds M.Sc. (Eng.), Electrical Engineering
Head of Project and Construction Management , Elenia Oy 2012-2019, Head of Construction and Partnerships Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2010 – 2011, Head of Asset Management Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2006 – 2010, Manager, Network Planning and Maintenance BU Vattenfall Distribution Finland 2002 – 2006, Specialist, Network and Energy Data Management Vattenfall Siirto Oy/ Hämeen Sähkö Oy 1998 – 2002, System Specialist, Power System Control IVO Power Engineering Ltd 1996 – 1998.
Heini Kuusela-Opas
CCO
CCO, Chief Communications Officer, Elenia Oy
Born 1960, Holds B.Sc. Social Sciences
Head of Media Relations, Vattenfall Group Communication Finland 2010 – 2011, Head of Communication Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2006 – 2012, Head of Communication BU Vattenfall Distribution Finland 2004 – 2006, Vice President Communication Business Group Vattenfall Nordic, Finland 2004 – 2005, Communication Manager BU Vattenfall Distribution Finland 2002 – 2004, Information Officer Vattenfall Distribution companies Finland 2000 – 2002, several communication positions at public sector and journalist.
Jorma Myllymäki
EVP
EVP, Executive Vice President, Elenia Verkko Oyj
Board Member since 2015
Member of the Safety, Health, Environment and Security Committee
COO Elenia Oy 2012-2019 and Board member of Elenia Oy since 2015, Head of Operations and Network Performance Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2010 – 2011, Head of Operations Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2007-2010, Global Product Manager ABB BU Medium Voltage Products 2004 – 2007, Head of Product Management ABB Oy 2003 – 2007, R&D Manager ABB Automation Technology Products AB Sweden 2002 – 2003, Development Manager, Site Manager and Program Manager ABB Oy 1997 – 2002, Sales Manager Otis Oy 1996 – 1997, Team Leader, Specialist and Design Engineer ABB Transmit Oy 1993 – 1996. Holds M.Sc. (Eng.), Electrical Engineering.
Ville Sihvola
VP
VP, Vice President Services, Elenia Oy
Born 1978, Holds M.Sc. (Eng.) Electrical Engineering
Managing Director Elenia Palvelut Oy 2015-2019, Head of Marketing and Sales Elenia Oy 2012-2015, Head of Marketing and Sales Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2010 – 2011, Head of Field Services Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2009 – 2010, Manager, Corporate Customers Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2007 -2009, several positions at BU Vattenfall Distribution Finland.
Tommi Valento
CFO
CFO, Chief Financial Officer. Elenia Oy
Born 1976, Holds M.Sc (Econ) and LL.M. and is a CFA charterholder.
Group Treasurer Pohjolan Voima Oy 2014 – 2015, Head of Debt Advisory KPMG Oy Ab 2010 – 2014, Director Kaupthing Bank hf., Helsinki Branch 2007-2009, Vice President Pohjola Pankki 2004 – 2007, Analyst Fennorating Oy 2003 – 2004, Junior Associate McKinsey & Company 2001 – 2003.
Elenia's Board
Timo Rajala
CEO Rajalimes Oy, Consulting company
Chairman of the Board since 2012
Chairman of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee
Timo joined the company in 2012 and is the Chairman of the Board. Timo is the CEO of Rajalimes Oy, is the Chairman of the Board of FinNuclear Oy and the Chairman of FinNuclear ry, and is a member of the Board of Ilmatar Windpower Plc. Prior to joining the company, Timo was President and CEO of Pohjolan Voima Oy (1992 – 2010), Director and manager of Teollisuuden Voima Oy and Pohjolan Voima Oy 1975 – 1992, Manager of Ekono Oy (Pöyry) (1973 – 1975). Timo was also previously Chairman of the following Boards: Teollisuuden Voima Oy (1992 – 2010) and Fingrid Oy (1996 – 2010). Timo was also a member of the following Boards: Savon Voima Oy (2000-2012) and Empower Oy (1995 – 2002) and (2010 – 2012). Timo holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering.
Miguel Antoñanzas
Operating Partner, Macquarie Asset Management
Board Member since 2021
Miguel is a non-executive director of EDP Redes España, Exolum and Hydro Dolomiti Energia and was the CEO of Viesgo Infraestructuras Energéticas, S.L until 2020. He has held executive positions in Europe and Latin America in the Iberdrola, ENEL and E.ON energy Groups, having also had international assignments with the global engineering group Bechtel. He has been Chairman and/or member of the Board of Directors of listed and private companies in many countries in the telecoms, engineering, media, water, gas and electricity sectors. Miguel is a member of the Board of Trustees of the International University Menéndez Pelayo and the Reina Sofia School of Music. He is a Civil Engineer specialized in hydraulics and energy.
Mark Braithwaite
Investment Committee Member and NonExecutive Director, Macquarie Asset Management
Board Member since 2018
Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee
Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee
Mark was a Senior Managing Director in Macquarie Asset Management between 2011 and 2022, having previously held the role of Chief Financial Officer of Thames Water Utilities Limited. Prior to joining Thames Water, Mark was Finance Director of the customer and energy divisions at EDF Energy plc. Mark remains on the MAM Investment Committee in EMEA and is a non-executive director of a number of MAM’s portfolio infrastructure companies in Europe. Mark is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurer.
Eduard Fidler
Director, Allianz Capital Partners
Board Member since 2019
Member of the Audit and Risk Committee
Member of the Safety, Health, Environment and Security Committee
Eduard Fidler is a Director at Allianz Capital Partners. He leads asset management activities for a number of Allianz’s direct infrastructure investments and currently holds board positions at Cadent Gas Limited in the UK, and Delgaz Grid SA in Romania. Eduard has over 15 years’ experience in energy and infrastructure investment and asset management. Prior to joining Allianz, Eduard was a senior member of Blackrock’s Global Energy & Power team (formerly part of First Reserve), and before this investing and managing utility investments at Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets. He began his professional career at AMEC plc in corporate strategy and project engineering. Eduard is a CFA® charterholder, and a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
Tapani Liuhala
Board member since 2012.
Tapani joined the company in 1990 and is the CEO of Elenia Networks and a member of the Elenia Networks Board. Tapani is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kiinteistö Oy Forssan Aleksi 6 and a member of the Board of Financelitas Oy. Tapani held various managerial positions at Vattenfall Verkko Oy including Head of Networks Finland, Assistant Managing Director and Manger of Customer Relations. Tapani holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Jorma Myllymäki
EVP
EVP, Executive Vice President, Elenia Verkko Oyj
Board Member since 2015.
Member of the Safety, Health, Environment and Security Committee
COO Elenia Oy 2012-2019 and Board member of Elenia Oy since 2015, Head of Operations and Network Performance Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2010 – 2011, Head of Operations Vattenfall Distribution Nordic Networks Finland 2007-2010, Global Product Manager ABB BU Medium Voltage Products 2004 – 2007, Head of Product Management ABB Oy 2003 – 2007, R&D Manager ABB Automation Technology Products AB Sweden 2002 – 2003, Development Manager, Site Manager and Program Manager ABB Oy 1997 – 2002, Sales Manager Otis Oy 1996 – 1997, Team Leader, Specialist and Design Engineer ABB Transmit Oy 1993 – 1996. Holds M.Sc. (Eng.), Electrical Engineering.
Sirpa Ojala
Board Member since 2018
Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee
Member of the Audit and Risk Committee
Member of the Safety, Health, Environment and Security Committee
Sirpa Ojala worked as a CEO of Colliers International Finland Group (ex Ovenia Group Oy) 2016-2019. The company is the leading property management service provider in Finland. Prior to joining Colliers, Sirpa worked at M-Brain Oy, which is a global information, technology and consulting services’ company and for 15 years at Digita Oy in the Finnish terrestrial broadcasting industry. She has an extensive experience in regulated infrastructures and building long-term especially B-to-B customer relations. Sirpa holds a M.Sc.(Eng.) in Industrial Economics from the University of Technology of Lappeenranta. Sirpa currently holds board positions at NESA (Huoltovarmuuskeskus), Kuntien Tiera Oy, Kekkilä Oy, Helsinki region Chamber of Commerce and Finnish Estonian Institution Foundation. She was a Member of the Board at Fingrid Oyj 7/2012-4/2015.
Michael Pfennig
Co-Head of Infrastructure, Allianz Capital Partners
Board Member since 2018
Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee
Dr. Michael Pfennig is Co-Head of Infrastructure and member of the management board of Allianz Capital Partners (ACP). He has joined ACP in 2004 and has since worked on numerous transactions both in the infrastructure as well as in the private equity sector.
He currently holds non-executive board positions at several companies in the electricity, gas and transport sector across Europe. Prior to joining ACP, Michael worked in Corporate Finance at Deutsche Bank and previously with the Corporate Finance and Strategy practice of McKinsey in Frankfurt and London. He started his career in Corporate Risk Management at Siemens in Munich.
Michael holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Frankfurt University (Dipl.-Kfm.) and has received his doctorate in finance and capital markets research from Munich University.