Cimcorp names Veli-Matti Hakala as CEO replacing retiring Tero Peltomäki

Ulvila, Finland – Cimcorp’s current CEO, Tero Peltomäki, is retiring after a long and distinguished career, although he will continue to serve on the board of directors. Tero is passing the baton to Veli-Matti Hakala, who will strive to maintain Cimcorp’s positive culture and hands-on innovation as the company grows.

Now with over 25 years of experience in industry and technology, Veli-Matti Hakala joined Cimcorp in 2016 for the opportunity to work in an innovative and international environment. He has grown within the company from sales to management, and in the past year he has worked as Executive Vice President.

“The objective for the upcoming years is steady but determined growth in both our company and our customer base,” says Hakala. “The foundation for this is Cimcorp’s proven technology and software, which deliver efficiencies in various industries.”

The growth objectives apply to both grocery retail and tire plant logistics, areas in which Cimcorp has been highly successful in recent years. Additionally, the Service business, as a cross-cutting organization, has the potential to be one of the key enablers of growth.

According to Hakala, steady growth is characteristic of Cimcorp. By taking measured steps, the company has maintained a high service level and a consultative role, listening closely and sharing its decades-long experience.

“Cimcorp has always grown by starting small in new business segments. We’ve created one solution first, and as we’ve gained more knowledge of our clients’ challenges, we have been able to expand,” says Hakala. The deep understanding of the client’s business environment is not only demonstrated in sales and design, but throughout the project. “In every phase, we aim to bring our experience to the table and even challenge the client’s initial perspective,” continues Hakala. “We are interested in what our client does and how it could be done better and more efficiently.”

This is exactly what Hakala wishes to cultivate in his new position as CEO. “I want to promote Cimcorp’s growth in a way that allows us to hold on to what we have – our innovative spirit and genuine care for the client,” he says. “A CEO has a vital role in keeping those things on board as the company grows. We need to remember how we got to where we are today.”

Hakala believes automation is an inevitable course, rather than a passing trend. Both the tire and grocery retail industries have, in the past, automated individual machines and parts of their operations. In recent years, automation has spread throughout the facilities. Companies want to be able to see the entire operation at a glance, utilize analytics, optimize processes and lead with data. Cimcorp’s own software and software development enable the management of these entities.

“We can see exponential growth in automation in distribution centers,” Hakala explains. “As grocery chains centralize their operations, the number of items flowing through the centers grows massively and, simultaneously, it’s difficult to find personnel to do the heavy lifting.”

Outside of work, Hakala likes to flyfish, ski and snowboard. Time spent with family and in nature are key parts of his life. To develop himself and his skills, he follows a simple recipe: “My career has taught me that development comes from listening. Everything starts with listening, gathering information, questioning and analyzing.”

Veli-Matti Hakala takes up his position as CEO of Cimcorp on 1.1.2025. Tero Peltomäki will stay on as a member of the board of directors. Tommi Kumlander has been appointed as Deputy CEO, also starting from 1.1.2025.