Major Shake-up at Konecranes

Konecranes’ business area equipment will change its structure from January 1, 2012, "to add organizational clarity and increase operational efficiency," according to a press release. This will also change the composition of the group executive board. Business area equipment will have five business units: Industrial Cranes, Light Lifting, Alfa (marketing and distribution of components via other brands than Konecranes), Port Cranes and Lift Trucks.

A new product management and engineering organization will be established to manage and coordinate products and engineering activities within the business area equipment. At the same time, global procurement and global component manufacturing units will be combined to form one supply chain management unit.

Ari Kiviniitty has been appointed senior vice president, head of product management and engineering. He will also act as deputy to Hannu Rusanen, head of business area equipment. Kiviniitty will continue as the acting chief technology officer until a new person has been appointed.

Pekka Lettijeff has been named chief supply chain officer, head of supply chain management.

Kiviniitty and Lettijeff will not continue as members of the group executive board in their new positions as they will report to Rusanen, executive vice president, head of business area equipment.

As of January 1, 2012, the board consists of: Pekka Lundmark, president and CEO, and chairman of the group executive board; Mikko Uhari, market operations; Hannu Rusanen, business area equipment; Fabio Fiorino, business area service; Teo Ottola, finance and headquarter functions; Ari Kiviniitty, chief technology officer (until a new person has been appointed).