Management Team
VR Group has a Management Team comprised of the President and CEO (Chair), the Group CFO, the SVP, Long-distance Traffic, the SVP, City Traffic, the SVP, Logistics, the SVP, Human Resources, the SVP, Train Operations & Safety, the Managing Director of VR FleetCare Ltd, the SVP, Communications and the SVP, Legal Affairs.
The President and CEO is responsible for managing the Group’s day-to-day administration in accordance with the instructions and orders issued by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors appoints and dismisses the President and CEO and decides on their remuneration.
The Management Team generally convenes once a month, and the President and CEO of VR-Group Plc acts as its chairperson.
Elisa Markula
- Born in 1966, M.Sc. (Econ.)
- CEO, VR-Group Plc
- Employed by VR Group since 2022
- Previously worked as the CEO of Oriola Corporation, the CEO of Tikkurila Group and Managing Director of the Coffee Division for Paulig Group
Laura Ansaharju
- Born in 1977, M.Sc.
- Senior Vice President, Human Resources, VR-Group Plc
- Employed by VR Group since 2022
- Previously worked at Finnair in various personnel management and development positions since 2011 and before that at Stora Enso
Ilkka Heiskanen
- Born in 1984, M.Sc., Industrial Engineering and Management
- Senior Vice President, Train Operations, VR-Group Plc
- Employed by VR Group since 2009
- Previously served as Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development at VR Group, Vice President, Production and Head of Planning at VR Transpoint, in business development at VR Transpoint and VR Group and as a Management Consultant at Bain & Company and Booz Allen Hamilton
Otso Ikonen
- Born in 1976, M.Sc. (Eng.), M.Sc. (Econ.)
- Senior Vice President, Maintenance, VR FleetCare Ltd
- Employed by VR Group since 2022
- Previously worked at ABB in international business management positions, as the director of the Helsinki machinery factory and in several other management roles as well as at Wexon Oy as the CEO
Eljas Koistinen
- Born in 1978, Executive MBA, Bachelor of Business Administration (University of Applied Sciences)
- Senior Vice President, VR Transpoint, VR-Group Plc
- Employed by VR Group since 2017 in various positions at VR Transpoint: Sales Director, Vice President, Production, and Vice President, Commercial. Before this, worked in VR Group in 2006–2017 as Key Account Manager and Sales Manager in logistics
- Previously worked as Sales Director at Geodis Wilson Finland Oy and in account management at Lindström Oy. Previous work experience also in Rautaruukki Corporation’s service
Erkka Repo
- Born in 1970, M.Sc. (econ.)
- CFO, VR-Group Plc
- Employed by VR Group since 2021
- Previously worked as Director at UPM Finance & Control organisation
Topi Simola
- Born in 1976, M.Sc. (econ.)
- Senior Vice President, VR City Traffic, VR-Group Plc
- Previously served as Senior Vice President of passenger services from 2019 to 2022 and head of development and director of commuter services from 2011 to 2017
- Previously employed as managing director of Cabonline Finland and as management consultant at Accenture and Synergy (KPMG)
Teemu Sipilä
- Born in 1974, LL.M., eMBA
- Chief Legal Officer, VR-Group Plc
- Employed by VR Group since 2023. Previously held various positions at VR in 2010–2020: Vice President, Commuter Services, Acting CEO of VR Track and General Counsel
- Previously worked as General Counsel, Partner and Advisor at GlucoModicum Ltd. Has also worked at, for example, Fortum and Castrén & Snellman
Mira Linnamaa
- Acting Senior Vice President, Communications, VR-Group Plc
Piia Tyynilä
- Born in 1973, Bachelor of Hospitality Management
- Senior Vice President, VR Long-distance Traffic, VR-Group Plc and CEO, Avecra Oy
- Employed by VR Group and Avecra since 2007
- Previously worked as VR’s Director of Services and in various positions at Avecra. Prior to this, worked in service business management positions at, for example, SOK and Picnic Finland Oy
