Investor blogs and podcasts
In Kesko’s investor blogs and podcasts, Kesko’s management discusses topical issues relevant to investors and shareholders.
IR blog: New Board of Directors to steer Kesko for the next three years – Kesko held its Annual General Meeting with special arrangements in place
Kesko held its 2021 Annual General Meeting on 12 April. In order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, special arrangements were in place, unfortunately preventing Kesko’s shareholders and their representatives from attending the meeting in person. Shareholders were instead given the opportunity to vote and submit counterproposals and questions in advance, and to follow the meeting as a live webcast. Naturally, we all hope that next year things are back to normal so that Kesko’s Annual General Meeting can once again bring together Kesko’s management and shareholders.
A total of 1,973 shareholders were presented at the meeting, representing some 183.5 million Kesko shares and 756.7 million votes. The Annual General Meeting was in favour of all proposals submitted by the Shareholders’ Nomination Committee and the Board of Directors. The meeting resolved, among other things, to distribute a dividend of €0.75 per share for the year 2020. It also authorised the Board to decide on the issuance of shares and elected an Auditor for the company. Click here for all resolutions of the 2021 Annual General Meeting.
Esa Kiiskinen, Kesko’s Board Chair, welcomed shareholders to watch the Annual General Meeting live webcast
The Annual General Meeting also elected seven members to form a new Board of Directors to serve the company for the next three years. Retailer Esa Kiiskinen, managing director Jannica Fagerholm, Board professional Peter Fagernäs, Metso Outotec's SVP, Business Development Piia Karhu, and retailer Toni Pokela will continue as Board members. New additions to the Board include long-time K-Rauta retailer Jussi Perälä and finance sector professional Timo Ritakallio. In the following videos, the two new members explain how they view Kesko’s current strategy, and what they think they can bring to the table.
All members of the Board are presented here. After the Annual General Meeting, the Board held an organisational meeting in which it elected from amongst its members the Board Chair, Deputy Chair and Audit and Remuneration Committee members.
Kesko also announced yesterday that Mikko Helander, who has been the company’s President and CEO since 2015, will not retire in June 2023 as originally agreed, but will instead continue to helm the company for the time being. Kesko’s Board Chair Esa Kiiskinen noted in his speech that Kesko has successfully undergone a strong transformation in recent years, and that the transformation and growth will continue under Mikko Helander also going forward.
Kiiskinen further expressed his thanks to the company’s management, retailers, K Group personnel, Kesko shareholders and all other partners for their contributions to Kesko’s success.
Visit the 2021 Annual General Meeting webpage to access all meeting materials.
