Sarsama who joins Ilmatar from Panostaja Plc, a publicly listed private equity company, has extensive experience in managing and developing growth companies. His knowledge supports Ilmatar’s strong growth as a pioneer in Finnish wind power.
Ilmatar Windpower’s Board of Directors has appointed Juha Sarsama as the CEO of Ilmatar Windpower. Sarsama started in his new role on 2.3.2020. Sarsama joins Ilmatar from Panostaja Plc, a publicly listed private equity company, where he served as long-standing CEO and recently as Investment Director and a member of the management team.
Sarsama also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Fondia Plc, a business legal service provider, and as a Board Member at Finnish Chamber of Commerce. Sarsama holds a Master of Laws degree from University of Helsinki and a Master of Science degree from the Boston University (Brussels).
”Both the EU’s Green Deal and Finland’s 2030 climate strategy underline the importance of energy related questions for our future. I am very excited and humbled by this opportunity to work with clean energy and with talented people who are committed to the climate.”, says Sarsama.
”Windpower as an industry is growing and developing rapidly and new utility scale projects are being constructed without governmental subsidies. The experience and know-how of Ilmatar can be scaled to take next level and pursuing growth is meaningful in multiple ways. Also, growing investor interest towards renewables adds to the dynamics of the industry.”, Sarsama continues.
Ilmatar aims to construct 1 000 MW of new clean energy to Finland in the next five years. Amongst other projects, it is currently constructing Piiparinmäki wind farm in Pyhäntä. Once operational, Piiparinmäki will be the largest wind farm in Finland. Other projects to be started soon include Louhukangas-Möksy wind farm in Alajärvi which will be one of Finland’s largest wind projects once operational.
Ilmatar collaborates with experienced international investors such as French Omnes Capital in various projects. A concrete example of this is Ilmatar Energy of which Ilmatar Windpower owns 30%.
“Ilmatar has developed to a stage where future growth requires new management expertise and experience to support it. Juha Sarsama’s name came up in the beginning of the recruitment process and we are pleased that he agreed to join us. Juha brings new expertise to the whole industry and he is an excellent person to develop our project organisation, which covers all aspects of power production and sales, to the next growth phase. Former CEO Erkka Saario will continue at Ilmatar Windpower as Head of Development.”, said Kalle Pykälä, Chairman of the Board at Ilmatar Windpower.