Forest, paper & packaging

Jouko Karvinen

CEO, Stora Enso Oyj    View profile

Getting ready for something that uncertain, isn’t easy. In general terms, I think you need to maintain flexibility. And that means doing practical things like reducing your fixed costs, outsourcing processes where you can, and streamlining your supply chain. The other fundamental thing is to keep your workforce believing that whatever the next storm, we’ll be able to get through it.

Jouko Karvinen

CEO, Stora Enso Oyj    View profile

We’re deploying our assets and operations in a more flexible manner so that we can control costs not only with regard to predictable business cycles, but also to cope with unpredictable macro-economic events.

Jouko Karvinen

CEO, Stora Enso Oyj    View profile

Innovation in most industries is too driven by technical perspectives rather than consumer perspectives. We’re very fond of talking about all sorts of technical possibilities. But in many cases, we don’t actually understand many of the markets that we’re trying to sell into. And I happen to believe that’s where you should start. You need to bring the consumer into the equation first, before pushing out technical solutions.

Jouko Karvinen

CEO, Stora Enso Oyj    View profile

It isn’t about young versus old, or the developing world versus the developed world. The most critical selection criteria that we used in putting together our team of junior managers was to maximise diversity of thought. So we recruited young and not-so-young managers. We recruited different nationalities. We recruited people on very different career paths. And that’s going to be a challenge for them because there’s going to be cultural and communication obstacles to overcome. But that diversity of thought is very good medicine for any company.

Jouko Karvinen

CEO, Stora Enso Oyj    View profile

Today, we are particularly invested in Corporate Responsibility in the emerging markets because we understand that that’s where our future lies. We want to be seen in those markets as a welcomed friend - not just a company that’s bringing in technology to exploit a financial opportunity. Consequently, we work very hard with local communities in the developing world on issues like education and health care. And we’ve introduced exchange programmes between universities in the developed and developing world. So, I can stand up in Uruguay or Brazil or China and say, we’re here because we want to better your community and your society.

Antonio Rios Amorim

Chairman and CEO, Corticeira Amorim SGPS SA    View profile

We are looking more and more at the balance sheet. We are looking much more at working capital needs. It is clear an economy that is going to be de-levered is going to have credit restrictions in the market, so your investment policy, your acquisition policy has to be a lot more prudent than ever before. But it is also clear that the markets are not going to be growing. So you really need to invest.

Antonio Rios Amorim

Chairman and CEO, Corticeira Amorim SGPS SA    View profile

At the end of the day, managing risk is the central job of management. The decisions that we take on a daily basis have got to be considered through the lens of risk management.

Antonio Rios Amorim

Chairman and CEO, Corticeira Amorim SGPS SA    View profile

[...] the focus of our company at the moment is on innovation - innovation in processes, in new products, in new applications, innovations that can really enhance the perceived value of our products. If volume growth is not going to be there, you need to have value growth, and in order to have value growth you need to offer the market innovative solutions, products, materials

Cheung Yan

Chairlady, Nine Dragons Paper (Holding) Ltd    View profile

We have many middle management positions taken up by this young generation too, and they share the same visions and corporate culture as their colleagues. They are also committed to the paper business. I feel very confident that they will make significant contributions to the enterprise, and build a promising career future for themselves.