The Nordic carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer will leave the company by the end of December and take on new responsibilities at Virgin Atlantic Airways.
“We want to express our warmest thanks to Juha for his contribution to Finnair’s transformation and we wish him the best of success in his new role,” stated interim CEO Pekka Vaehaehyyppae of
Helsinki-based Finnair upon the announcement of the manager’s departure.
During his almost seven-year tenure with Finnair, he and his executive team have succeeded in building a strong position in many markets. As a member of the executive board, “Juha has played a
key role in the renewal of Finnair’s culture and strategy, and in implementing Finnair’s growth,” said Mr Vaehaehyyppae.
Inventing cargo anew
Jaervinen joined Finnair in March 2012 after giving up his post as VP for international ground handling at carrier SAS. At Finnair, he took on the role as Managing Director of Finnair Cargo, that
was going through an in-depth restructuring process, including network, ground handling, and sales activities.
It was him that pushed plans forward to build a state-of-the-art freight terminal at Helsinki Vantaa Airport designed by BeCon Projects GmbH and equipped with technique supplied by Loedige
Industries, enabling shipments to transit from flight to flight or truck to flight in less than an hour. Their “Cool Nordic Cargo Hub,” which officially opened in December 2017, is especially
notable for its eco-friendly design, modern technology and automated processes. Meanwhile, the facility, pushed forward by manager Jaervinen, and one of the most modern in the world, has
developed into a “key enabler of Finnair’s growth strategy,” emphasized Mr. Vaehaehyyppae.
Emotional farewell
“My years at Finnair have been an amazing experience,” states Juha Jaervinen upon his departure. He went on to say: “During these years of change, turnaround and growth, I have learned a lot both
on teamwork and leading change. We have steered Finnair towards a strong growth path, we are a significant airline in connecting Europe and Asia, and our customer satisfaction is at a good level
compared to international standards.”
Turning to his new role at Virgin Atlantic where he'll become Executive Vice President Commercial, he emphasized that Finnair and Virgin Atlantic are both renowned brands, each with a great
history and an authentic story. “I will soon say goodbye to Finnair, but the Finnair team will always have a special place in my heart.”
The search for his replacement starts immediately.
Heiner Siegmund
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