Jarmo Ropponen is the Head of Asia-Pacific, Head of Tissue, and CEO Malaysia at Tietoevry, responsible for ensuring business growth in APAC and Tissue globally and expanding their Business Hub operations in Malaysia. Before stepping into this current role, Jarmo has worked in a wide range of roles, including as Head of Sales and Marketing for pulp, paper, and fiber industries. What makes him successful in every role he has taken on is his customer-centric approach, which he has followed since the beginning of his career. He has worked with customers since the start of his professional journey, it has proven to be his greatest strength.
“Now, being based in Asia, I see immense potential to help customers take a significant leap in digital transformation, modernizing their operations and adopting cutting-edge solutions for a more sustainable future,” Jarmo says. He is energetic, passionate, and known for leading by example. One can always find him staying engaged at the frontlines. “I firmly believe that hard work, active engagement, and a commitment to action are key to achieving shared goals,” he says.
Following Advice of a Former Football Coach
In 1988, when Jarmo began looking for work, after his university studies in mathematics, computer science, and additional subjects, he discovered that most of the job opportunities in Finland were in the Helsinki capital area. One evening, his former football coach advised him to look for opportunities at Altim Control in Varkaus, now called Ahlstrom Automation, instead of moving to Helsinki. “He suggested that their work might align with my interests,” Jarmo recalls. And he was right about that.
At the time, Altim Control was at the forefront of automation technology. When Jarmo applied there, they offered him a job immediately. “That’s how my long career in digitalization, the pulp and paper industry, and manufacturing execution systems (MES) began,” Jarmo says.
The Long Career Path
MES system design is where Jarmo began his career. “Over the years, I have taken on various roles, gaining experience across different areas of the business,” he says.
Following his stint at Ahlstrom in Finland, Jarmo worked in the U.K. and France in the early 1990s for a couple of years. In 1992, Honeywell acquired the business. When he returned to Finland in 1993, he began to gradually advance to handling larger management responsibilities. He eventually led Honeywell Hi-Spec’s Varkaus unit and its EMEA Service Business.
In 2002, Jarmo joined Tietoevry, formerly called Tieto. What impressed him the most about the company was its clear strategy and commitment to becoming the #1 MES supplier globally. “I saw an opportunity to be part of a winning team and contribute to that vision,” he says. Initially, he led European, then global support & services, and later, he took on key customer integrator roles. In 2005, Jarmo transitioned into the role of strategic customer executive. He remembers working extensively with UPM to provide IT solutions and services across its business operations. The role proved to be an “incredible journey” for him. It allowed him to collaborate with an industry leader and contributed to digitalization across multiple domains. At the end of 2017, Jarmo returned to the MES business to lead Sales & Marketing for the organization’s Pulp, Paper, and Fiber division. “As we pursued strategic growth initiatives, we focused on expanding in the Asia-Pacific region and the global tissue market,” Jarmo says. “As part of this expansion and our strategy,” Jarmo says, “I was nominated as Head of APAC and Tissue Business Globally, and in addition, as the CEO of our Malaysian operations, and relocated to Kuala Lumpur at the end of 2023.” Tietoevry established a new Malaysian company in 2024, with the aim of supporting its rapid growth in Asia. It is positioned as their APAC business hub.
Dealing with Challenges
On several occasions, Jarmo has encountered situations where customer satisfaction or project progress started to suffer and veer off track. When that has happened, he has taken proactive actions. “I have taken extraordinary measures to regain momentum,” he says. “I have taken hands-on leadership, dedicating extra effort to systematically identify issues and implement solutions, piece by piece, to get things back on track.”
Jarmo is able to effectively deal with such challenges because of his expertise, experience, strong professional networks, and effective communication skills. His customer-centric mindset, service-oriented approach, and passion for delivering results also enable him to turn difficult situations around.
Success and Significant Achievements
For Jarmo, in his current roles, success starts with building awareness and expanding their presence within the customer and industry network. He believes that the first key indicators of progress are increasing customer engagement and strengthening relationships. “These serve as leading measures for achieving larger business outcomes. Naturally, you have to bring the tangible business value on the table too,” he says.
Jarmo views positive customer feedback as a powerful motivator, as, according to him, it validates their efforts in delivering value. Jarmo shares that one of their customers recently said, “This is the way to do it.” “That kind of recognition reinforces that we are on the right track,” he adds.
Despite looking forward to customer feedback, Jarmo believes that success must also be measured by tangible business results. In their industry, some of the key performance indicators (KPIs) are Total Contract Value (TCV), revenue growth, and profit margins. A strong financial performance attests to customers’ trust in them and their ability to execute effectively. “Success creates success — the more we deliver successfully, the more opportunities arise,” Jarmo says.
He also finds “great fulfillment” in supporting his colleagues and earning their trust. To him, positive feedback from the team is equally rewarding while getting things done together is the main driver. “A collaborative and motivated teamwork is a critical part of long-term success,” he says.
Over the years, Jarmo has worked with a diverse range of customers, including world-leading industry players and small and medium-sized businesses. He has earned their trust by always keeping commitments made to them and delivered value. This is another great achievement of his.
Also, throughout his career, he has built high-performing teams that have gone on to break records, which aligns with his passion for sports and competition. Personally, for him, two milestones are more memorable than the rest. One is winning the corporate large deal competition in 2014, and the other is receiving the “Doctor Sales” award in 2011 at a major corporate Gala. The “Doctor Sales” award recognized him as the best salesperson in the entire corporation. “These accomplishments are not only a testament to my professional growth but also to the value of collaboration, dedication, and a shared commitment to excellence and teamwork,” Jarmo says.
Brief Introduction to Tietoevry
Tietoevry is a Finnish IT software and service company providing IT and product engineering services with some 23 000 people, vast global customer space and 3 BEUR revenue. In the Pulp, Paper and Fibre Industry business segment, which Jarmo is now focusing on, Tietoevry is global leader having #1 in MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems).
A few years ago, they made a strategic decision to invest in the tissue segment, which resulted in their collaboration with Metsä Tissue, a European tissue company, to co-develop the most advanced tissue solution in the world. Once the solution was completed and proven successful their focus shifted to scaling it to the global market. “The solution has now been successfully implemented in multiple countries in Europe and in Asia, and we have recently launched an all-inclusive (“All in One”), fast-delivery model with TIPS MES SaaS” Jarmo says.
Additionally, Tietoevry has long prioritized sustainability, with a focus on Science-Based Targets (SBTi). Jarmo says that they are recognized as “global leaders in IT sustainability” and have gained EcoVadis’ highest platinum rating and are listed on the CDP A-list and Equileap’s Global Gender Equality Ranking. Jarmo says that their mission is to “reinvent the world for good.”
In 2024, Tietoevry launched its Sustainability Pledge, targeting high-impact areas such as climate action, ethical standards, and promoting a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. “We are also committed to driving sustainability improvements in both our own operations and our customers’ efficiency.” says Jarmo.
As one of the influential leaders at Tietoevry, Jarmo is specifically proud of the organization’s culture code – “it emphasizes being customer-driven, achieve together, keep learning, and always genuine.” “Rooted in our Nordic heritage (Openness, Trust and Diversity), this code provides a solid foundation for our global team,” he says.
Recapping a Leader’s Day
Jarmo’s responsibilities at Tietoevry require him to travel frequently a lot to meet customers, other industry actors and take part and present in the industry events, and because of that, he does not usually have a fixed daily routine. According to him, his daily routine varies depending on the time of the week and month. “Travel days are their own category, often requiring intense multitasking to prepare, coordinate, and manage various activities on the go,” he says.
When he is not traveling, Jarmo likes to start his day by catching up on news, emails, and social media while having his breakfast. He then plans and prioritizes key tasks for the day. Jarmo shares that his mornings and afternoons are often devoted to meetings with Asian customers or internal teams. And in the evenings, he sometimes holds discussions and meetings with European colleagues and management on shared business topics. “As a result, my workdays can be quite long, but I make it a priority to take a longer lunch break to exercise and recharge,” Jarmo says.
In the evenings, he also tries to maintain a balance between his personal and professional life. He talks to his family, socializes, and follows Asian news. Jarmo has reserved his weekends for unwinding and recharging in case nothing urgent business is on the table. On weekends, he likes to watch Finnish sports stars, particularly in the NHL and NBA, shop, dine out, and when possible, explore new places with his family.
Jarmo takes great pride in being a hard worker. He has always pushed himself to achieve tough targets and commitments. “I hold myself to high standards and strive for world-class performance whenever possible,” he says. He credits his parents for instilling in him this work ethic. According to him, they taught him the importance of hard work, dedication, resilience, and self-care powered by your dream and passion to make it real. When I was a teenager, my mother, who passed away last year, was also introducing me to get along with all kinds of people and hands on selling our own field strawberries at the marketplace as my summer job. I still well remember how popular and preferred we were with long queues at times. I probably still hold my hometown daily sales record.
The Leadership Philosophy
Open and transparent communication is the core of Jarmo’s leadership philosophy. He follows an open-door policy and keeps his teams well-informed about progress. This makes his teams feel valued and supported. Jarmo adds that they also have access to coaching when needed.
“Over the years, my leadership approach has evolved to place even greater emphasis on fostering trust, collaboration, and empowerment within my teams,” Jarmo says. He inspires and guides his teams to reach their full potential by being approachable and supportive. His ability to prioritize activities and results also inspires his teams.
Secret to Long-Term Success
Jarmo makes sure to get at least seven hours of sleep. He also engages in some form of physical activity every day. “When traveling, I allow myself some flexibility, but overall, I am much more conscious of my well-being than I was in the past,” he says. His family also supports his commitment to health. Jarmo shares that they gifted him a sports watch for his birthday to push him to stay on track. Like most Finns, I consider the sauna a secret weapon for relaxation and recovery. When in Finland, I’m using it weekly at least, if not daily. One of the best ways for me to recharge is by spending time at our villa near a national park and Lake Saimaa, where I can truly unwind with my family. My father put it well, “In case you will not be able to recharge and relax there, you better go to see doctor.”
“My long-term success, and the way I have been working over my career would not have been possible if I would not have been physically fit,” he says. “Mental health comes along when you are fit and keep your life in good balance.” He highlights the crucial support and care of his wife as well: “Without her I would have never been able to do the work the way I have done it.”
“Work is very important, but family is the #1 and the long-time friends, who have gone on the journey together with us,” Jarmo says.
Trends Shaping the Future of Tech and Pulp, Paper and Fibre Industry
Jarmo notes that advancements in AI and Generative AI (GenAI) are driving the acceleration of the digital transformation in the industry. “Technologies, especially GenAI and AI agents, along with their future orchestration capabilities, will be pivotal in shaping the future,” he points out. He dubs the digital revolution a “Digital Tsunami,” a force that is set to “fundamentally reshape” the world. It is also a force that will bring them closer to “realizing the vision of autonomous mills,” according to Jarmo. In the very near future, he also expects humanoid robots to play a significant role in the broader scope of digitalization.
Tietoevry’s leadership team recognizes that by establishing a digital operational backbone, with MES at its core, the customers can ensure access of high-quality, integrated data. Jarmo informs that they are currently “heavily investing” in new capabilities to stay ahead of the curve. The recent launch of TIPS MES SaaS service on Microsoft Azure is an example of that. Jarmo explains that this launch will provide their customers with significant digitalization benefits, which will allow them to transform and scale their operations rapidly and take the benefit from the new technology in multiple ways.
Tietoevry is also embedding AI, GenAI, and Co-Pilot capabilities into their TIPS MES solution, making it the most modern and comprehensive solution available in the market today. “This will enable our customers to harness cutting-edge technology to drive efficiency, innovation, and sustainable growth,” Jarmo says.
Message to Aspiring Leaders
Jarmo advises aspiring leaders in his field to stay curious, break down silos, and actively build networks and bridges that foster integration and collaboration. “The greatest innovations and breakthroughs often emerge at the intersections of different domains,” he says. “By embracing cross-functional thinking, seeking out new opportunities, and staying open to the unknown, you can help shape the future of the industry. While we are on the journey to AI driven world and especially in these days, please appraise and give value for human touch, kindness and empathy.”
The best companies excel in planning, empowering their teams, and executing transformations in an agile manner to drive meaningful and needed results. As one of my former leaders used to say: “When you have a plan to follow, there’s no need to rush.”
