Vaisala completes co-operation negotiations for business restructuring
New organisational structure strengthens customer focus across all functions and ensures operational efficiency through simplification
Vaisala announced on 27 January 2015 its plans to restructure its business to strengthen the capability to implement its strategy and to increase agility. As a result of the restructuring, Weather Business Area is organised into three business units, Meteorology, Transportation and Energy, and Controlled Environment Business Area is organised into three regions with full business responsibility, Americas, EMEA and APAC.
The current Service function is integrated into Weather and Controlled Environment Business Areas. In the new structure Information Services and Field Services are part of the Weather Business Area whereas Calibration and Repair Services are part of the Controlled Environment Business Area. Vaisala's Operations and Support units will continue to serve as group functions.
Vaisala continues to invest in its growth businesses and to develop products and services which combine its customers' business expertise and Vaisala's technological leadership. The new organisational structure strengthens customer focus across all functions and ensures operational efficiency through simplification.
The planning of restructuring has been finalised and in Finland the related co-operation negotiations, which were initiated on 2 February 2015 were completed on 5 March 2015. As a result, Vaisala will reduce its workforce by a total of 52 positions, of which 18 will be in Finland. The original estimate for the reduction was 60 full-time equivalents, of which about 25 were estimated to be in Finland. The reduction will take place through redundancies, retirement options and terminations of temporary contracts. Vaisala will provide a range of support measures for those affected by the restructuring.
The restructuring is estimated to result in annual cost savings of €4m by 2016. The cost savings for 2015 are estimated to be €2m. The related one-time costs will be reported in the first quarter 2015 Interim Report and are estimated to be €2m.
As a result of the integration of the Services function into the Weather and Controlled Environment Business Areas Hannu Katajamäki, Executive Vice President, Services and member of Vaisala's Management Group, is leaving Vaisala as of 1 April 2015. Katajamäki has been a member of Vaisala's Management Group since 2011.
As of 1 April 2015 Vaisala's Management Group members are:
- Kjell Forsén, President and CEO, Chairman of the Management Group
- Marja Happonen, Executive Vice President, Human Resources
- Kai Konola, Executive Vice President, Weather Business Area
- Sampsa Lahtinen, Executive Vice President, Controlled Environment Business Area
- Kaarina Muurinen, CFO
- Vesa Pylvänäinen, Executive Vice President, Operations
