Sulapac’s reshaped leadership team is geared for growth

– building on a solid strategic foundation, the focus now turns to relentless execution 

 

Sulapac appoints Joonas Helenius as CEO and Miki Lahtinen as Chief Commercial Officer. The reshaped leadership team is committed to ambitious growth and well-equipped to deliver on the company’s new strategy.

Joonas Helenius has been appointed as the new CEO starting on 3 September 2025.

Helenius has previously served as Sulapac’s Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and deputy CEO. His extensive experience in financial management and corporate development, along with board work at technology startups, provides him with an excellent foundation for the new role. Prior to joining Sulapac, Helenius was responsible for minority equity investments and strategic holdings at Neste Oyj.

Former CEO, Antti Valtonen, who played a key role in building Sulapac’s success over the past eight years, decided to pursue his interests outside Sulapac. ”I have truly enjoyed this journey and am deeply grateful for everything I’ve learned. There is never an easy moment to step down as CEO, but with the transformation on track, a clear focus in place, and strong confidence in my successor, I leave with a full heart and wishing all the best for the company’s future,” says Valtonen.

“I want to thank Antti for his exceptional leadership and strategic clarity during a transformative period for the company. I am honored to follow in his footsteps and eager to continue working with our team, partners, and customers to combat climate change – one ton of granules at a time,” Helenius says.

Over the past 12 months, the company has gone through a radical shift from an R&D centric organization into a commercially driven company. “Thanks to carefully identified focus segments and improved operational efficiency, the company is now in a good position to pursue aggressive expansion,” states Helenius.

“On behalf of the board, I wish to express our gratitude to Antti for his commitment and lasting impact on Sulapac’s story. We are also delighted to welcome Helenius as the new CEO, ensuring a smooth transition and a bright new chapter for the company,” says Suvi Haimi, Sulapac Co-Founder and Chair of the Board.

New commercial lead to accelerate growth in key focus areas

Reflecting the company’s focus on building long-term, profitable business relationships, Sulapac has appointed Miki Lahtinen as the Chief Commercial Officer. He has previously led Sulapac’s Food Services business and was responsible for distributor relations.

With a deep understanding of process development and more than 10 years of experience from the packaging sector, from companies such as Huhtamäki and Stora Enso, Lahtinen brings industry insight and systematic approach to the team’s commercial operations. “The foundation for sustainable growth has been laid, and now it is time for relentless execution, and continuous optimization, guided by a customer-centric approach,” Lahtinen says.

Other leadership team members, Dr. Heidi Peltola and Dr. Laura Tirkkonen-Rajasalo continue in their current roles, Peltola as Chief Product Officer and Tirkkonen-Rajasalo as Chief Compliance Officer, contributing exceptional scientific know-how, product development expertise, and comprehensive knowledge of the technical and regulatory requirements – competencies underpinning the company’s global expansion.

 

 

Further information:

Suvi Haimi
Co-founder and Chair of the Board
Sulapac Ltd
suvi.haimi@sulapac.com
+358 44 029 1203

 

Sulapac Ltd is an award-winning material innovation company bringing solutions to the global plastic crisis. By replacing conventional plastic with sustainable, beautiful, and functional Sulapac materials, companies can reduce their carbon footprint, eliminate microplastic pollution, and advance the circular economy. The Helsinki-based company was founded by three scientists in 2016 and serves customers across various industries on three continents. Investors behind Sulapac®, the patented material innovation, include CHANEL and Lifeline Ventures.