Corporate Advocacy – Activities in Organisations
In advocacy and lobbying activities, Kesko is committed to the recommendations of good lobbying practice prepared by the Advisory Board for the Finnish Transparency Register. The recommendations are following:
- We respect the democratic decision-making process
- We act honestly and with respect for others
- We publicly disclose on whose behalf we are acting and what interests we are promoting
- We openly disclose our affiliations
- We respect confidentiality
- We adhere to the rules of hospitality
The recommendations can be found in full at this link.
The goal of the National Transparency Register is to increase the transparency of decision-making in the Parliament, the Government, and the ministries by registering such contacts with decision-makers that are made outside official working groups and hearings. The Transparency Register Act came into force on January 1, 2024. Disclosure of activities (in Finnish) can be found here.
Our operations are also guided by the K Code of Conduct, which serves as support and guidance for the choices and decisions made within K Group. With these guidelines, we ensure that all employees within K Group, K-retailers, and K Group’s business partners have a common understanding of the rules and principles that guide our actions, for instance related to external communications and hospitality. Based on Kesko’s disclosure policy, we engage in open and active communication.
Activities in organisations
Kesko is committed to the targets of the Paris Agreement and has set science-based emissions reductions targets. Kesko’s targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and in addition to emissions from Kesko’s own operations they cover the emissions from Kesko’s value chain.
Kesko has established a governance framework for public affairs activities. Trade association and possible other lobby organisation memberships are annually reviewed by the Group Management Board. Kesko closely follows the public policy engagements aligned with the Paris Agreement made by those trade associations and lobbying organisations that Kesko is a member of.
The most significant Finnish trading sector and business organisations with a Kesko representative in a position of trust are the Finnish Commerce Federation, Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), and Finnish Grocery Trade Association. The main international trading sector organisations are EuroCommerce and Independent Retail Europe (IRE). In 2023, Kesko paid as membership fees to these organisations: €843,000 to Finnish Commerce Federation (incl. EK membership fee); €441,000 to Finnish Grocery Trade Association; €62,000 to EuroCommerce; and €80,000 to Independent Retail Europe (IRE).
The Corporate Management Board's major positions of trust as a whole are listed in the Administration and Management section.
International organisations
- Advisory Board: Vice President Harri Hovi, Kesko's grocery trade
- Operational Advisory Board: Director, Sales and Own Brands Tuuli Luoma, Kesko Corporation
-Member of amfori Network Committee Finland, Sustainability Specialist Vilma Mitrunen, Kesko Corporation
European DIY Retail Association, EDRA
- Board: Jorma Rauhala, President and CEO, Kesko Corporation
- Aquaculture Technical Committee: Sustainability Manager Johanna Teinilä-Kurvinen, Kesko's grocery trade
- Board: Executive Vice President, Legal and Sustainability Lasse Luukkainen, Kesko Corporation
IGS (ICA Global Sourcing)
- Advisory Board: President Ari Akseli, Vice President Harri Hovi and Purchasing and Sales Director Hannele Åberg, Kesko's grocery trade
WIM (Wholesalers of Installation Materials)
- General Assembly: Product Line Director Jani Kakko, Kesko’s building and technical trade
Trade organisations
Confederation of Finnish Industries EK
- Board: President and CEO Jorma Rauhala, Kesko Corporation
- Finance and Taxation Committee: Tax Director Oili Lahdenperä, Kesko Corporation
- Legal Affairs Committee: Executive Vice President, Legal and Sustainability Lasse Luukkainen, Kesko Corporation
- Trade Policy Committee: Director, Sales and Own Brands Tuuli Luoma, Kesko Corporation
- Logistics Committee: Vice President, GT Supply Chain Management and Logistics Jyrki Tomminen, Kesko’s grocery trade
- Ava Academy / Support association of Ava institute: Manager, Competence Development Anu Haapoja, Kesko Corporation
Federation of Finnish Commerce
- Board: President and CEO Jorma Rauhala, Kesko Corporation (Chair)
- Community Planning Committee: District Director of Western Finland Jari Alanen, Kesko Corporation
- Environmental Committee: Sustainability Director Timo Jäske, Kesko's grocery trade (Chair)
- Payment Committee: Vice President Ismo Riitala, Kesko Corporation
- Tax and Economic Policy Committee: Tax Director Oili Lahdenperä, Kesko Corporation
- Trade Policy Committee: Director, Sales and Own Brands Tuuli Luoma, Kesko Corporation (Chair)
- Chemicals: Product Quality Manager Kristina Laurila, Kesko Corporation
- Training: Senior Manager Minna Lähteenmäki, Kesko Corporation
- Consumer Affairs: Corporate Counsel Karri Puustinen, Kesko Corporation (Chair)
- Security: Head of Corporate Security Petri Käyhkö, Kesko Corporation
- Employment: Vice President, Employee Relations, Petteri Huovinen, Kesko Corporation
- Corporate Responsibility: Vice President, Sustainability Matti Kalervo, Kesko Corporation
- Communications: Director, K Communications Paula Niemistö, Kesko Corporation
- Energy Efficiency Agreements: Vice President, Energy Antti Kokkonen, Kesko Corporation
- Legal Affairs Committee: Executive Vice President, Legal and Sustainability Lasse Luukkainen, Kesko Corporation
Palpa (Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy)
-Board: Director, purchasing and sales Aki Erkkilä, Kesko’s grocery trade (Chair), Sustainability Director Timo Jäske, Kesko's grocery trade (deputy)
- Committee: Supply Chain Director Antti Lähde, Kesko’s grocery trade
Finnish Grocery Trade Association
- Board: President Ari Akseli, Kesko's grocery trade (Chair)
- Retail Group: Vice President Harri Hovi, Kesko's grocery trade
- Local Store Services: Director Operative Teemu Naumanen, Kesko Corporation
- Foodservice Wholesale Group: Managing Director Mika Halmesmäki, Kespro Ltd
- Self-monitoring Group: Miia Kiuru, Kesko Corporation
- Product Safety Group: Product Research Manager Timo Kivi, Kesko Corporation
- Communications Group: Vice President, Communications Jaana Huttunen, Kesko Corporation and Public Affairs Senior Manager Niklas Nila, Kesko Corporation
- Resource Efficiency Group: Sustainability Director Timo Jäske, Kesko's grocery trade (Chair)
-Other committees: a representative in all
Finnish Electrotechnical Trade Association (STK)
- Board: Managing director, Martti Forss, Onninen Oy, Kesko Building and Technical trade (Chair)
Finnish HVAC Technical Traders’ Association
- Board: Managing Director Martti Forss, Onninen Oy, Kesko Building and Technical trade (vice-chair)
- Refrigeration Technology group: Sales Director Ilkka Viita, Kesko Building and Technical trade
The Association of Products and Services Trade ETU
-Board: Purchasing and Sales Director Hannele Åberg, Kesko's grocery trade
Yleinen teollisuusliitto (YTL)
- Advisory Board of Logistics Customers: Production Director Jarmo Nikupeteri, Kesko's grocery trade
Universities
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences
- Board: Jorma Rauhala, President and CEO, Kesko Corporation (Chair)
JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Business Administration
- Advisory Board: District Director of Eastern Finland Jari Alanen, Kesko Corporation
Jyväskylä Summer University
- Board: District Director of Western Finland Jari Alanen, Kesko Corporation
Tampere University of Applied Sciences
- Board: District Director of Western Finland Jari Alanen, Kesko Corporation (vice-chair)
Tampere University of Technology
- Board of the Support Foundation: District Director of Western Finland Jari Alanen, Kesko Corporation
- Board of the Support Foundation: -
3 AMK
- Haaga-Helia, Laurea ja Metropolia (3AMK) Advisory Board: VP Employee Relations Petteri Huovinen, Kesko Corporation
Chambers of Commerce
- Traffic Committee: Supply Chain Management and Logistics Director Mika Salmijärvi, Kesko Building and Technical trade
-E-commerce Committee: Legal Director Lumi-Sirkku Vikiö, Kesko Corporation
Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce
- Board of the Central Uusimaa Chamber of Commerce unit: Chain Manager Harri Ojala, Kesko’s grocery trade
- Foresight Committee: Senior Manager Minna Lähteenmäki, Kesko Corporation
- ICT Committee: Vice President, CIO Arto Hiltunen, Kesko Corporation
- Port and Logistics Committee: Vice President, GT Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Jyrki Tomminen, Kesko’s grocery trade
- Store & Services Committee: Vice President Ari Sääksmäki, Kesko's grocery trade
- Corporate Security Committee: Head of Corporate Security Petri Käyhkö, Kesko Corporation
- Cooperation group of the Helsinki Chamber of Commerce and Ministry of the Environment: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
- Traffic Committee: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
- MAL 2023 monitoring group: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
- Helsinki 10 group: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
- Helsinki centre attraction group: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
- Vantaa Region Board: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
Kuopio Region Chamber of Commerce
- Board: District Director of Eastern Finland Jari Kuosmanen, Kesko Corporation
North Karelia Chamber of Commerce
- Committee of Trade, Services and Tourism: District Director of Eastern Finland Jari Kuosmanen, Kesko Corporation
- Commitee of Commerce and Tourism: District Director Ilpo Korkala, Kespro
Southern Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce
- Business Committee: District Director of Western Finland Jari Alanen, Kesko Corporation
Riihimäki-Hyvinkää Chamber of Commerce
- Regional Development Board: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
South Savo Chamber of Commerce
- Board: District Director of Eastern Finland Jari Kuosmanen, Kesko Corporation
Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce (Vaasa)
-Board: District Director of Western Finland Jari Alanen, Kesko Corporation
Central Finland Chamber of Commerce
- Committee: District Director of Western Finland Jari Alanen, Kesko Corporation
- Board: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
- Tourism Committee: District Director Tommi Nuutinen, Kespro
South Karelia Chamber of Commerce
-Board: District Director of Eastern Finland Jari Kuosmanen, Kesko Corporation
Other organisations and groups
- Board: Category Manager Eero Korhonen, Onninen Oy, Kesko's building and technical trade
The Electrical Contractors´ Association of Finland STUL
- Board member, Chair of the Tele Group: Timo Nikulainen, Sales Director, Electrical, Kesko’s Building and Technical Trade
Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA
- Member: President and CEO Mikko Helander, Kesko Corporation
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
- Member of the Regional Advisory Board of Helsinki: Katriina Ahtee, Director, Employee Experience & Wellbeing, Kesko Corporation
- Board: Sustainability Director Timo Jäske, Kesko's grocery trade
- Advisory Board: Hannu Pekuri, Development and Quality Manager, Kesko’s building and technical trade
-Low Carbon Construction Committee: Building Services Manager Antti Kokkonen, Kesko Corporation
-Carbon Neutral Buildings Committee: Manager, Building Services Jari Pihlajamaa, Kesko Corporation
The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities
Sopiva työ kaikille: Vice President, Employee Relations, Petteri Huovinen
- member, Kesko's representative: District Director of Southern Finland Mika Sivula, Kesko Corporation
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
- Salmon and sea trout strategy monitoring group: Vice President, Corporate Responsibility Matti Kalervo, Kesko Corporation
- ELV food hygiene group: Quality and Product Development Manager Timo Kivi, Kesko's grocery trade
- Farm Animal Welfare Council: Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Matti Kalervo, Kesko Corporation
The Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa
- Member: Mikko Paukkonen, Vice President at Neste K Service Station Stores, Kesko Corporation
- Board: Vice President Harri Hovi, Kesko's grocery trade (Chair); Sales and Purchasing Director Janne Vuorinen, Kesko’s grocery trade (deputy member)
- Investment Committee: Vice President, M&A, Jarkko Karjalainen, Kesko Corporation
RaSi ry (Finnish Hardware Association, DIY)
- Board: Product Line Director Harri Karumo and Senior Vice President, Commerce and SCM Petteri Niemi (deputy member), Kesko's building and technical trade
- Board: Vice President Harri Hovi, Kesko’s grocery trade
Suomen ElFi Oy
- Board: Vice President, Energy Antti Kokkonen, Kesko’s grocery trade
- Board: Sustainability Director Timo Jäske, Kesko's grocery trade
Fashion and Sports Commerce Association
-Board: Sales Director Hannele Åberg, Kesko's grocery trade (Chair) and Sami Kiiski, Senior Vice President, leisure trade, Kesko Corporation
-Working committee: Purchasing and Sales Director Hannele Åberg, Kesko's grocery trade
The Association for Finnish Work
- Board: President Ari Akseli, Kesko's grocery trade
National Emergency Supply Agency
-Trade and Distribution Committee: GT Supply Chain Management and Logistics Jyrki Tomminen, Kesko’s grocery trade
-Maakuljetuspooli: Supply Chain Management and Logistics Director, Mika Salmijärvi, Kesko’s building and technical trade
Talteka
-Board: Director Heating, Plumbing and Air Conditioning Sakari Manninen, Kesko's building and technical trade (vice-chair)
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
- Regional Advisory Board, Helsinki: Project Director Katriina Ahtee, K Legal and Sustainability, Kesko Corporation
