“It’s rewarding to help shape the VAK work community and drive its development”
Sakari Toivonen, M.Sc. (Tech.), has been appointed Chief Human Resources Officer of VAK Group and member of the Management Team, effective 6 October 2025. Mr Toivonen is responsible for leading, developing, and managing VAK Group’s HR services. Mr Toivonen brings extensive experience in industrial production, maintenance, and HR leadership roles from UPM Kymmene, Oras Group, and Rauma Marine Construction.
In his new role, Mr Toivonen will report to CEO Pekka Kuusniemi.
Sakari, you have just started as Human Resources Director at VAK Group. Could you tell us about your career before joining VAK?
I began my career as a design engineer in Tampella’s boiler division. After Tampella, I joined the Rauma Paper Mill, then part of Rauma-Repola (now UPM), where I started as a mechanical maintenance engineer and later became maintenance manager. While working in maintenance, I transitioned to a role as human resources manager – making the shift from technical management to HR.
After leaving UPM, I served as Human Resources Director at Oras Group, and later as Administrative Director at Rauma Marine Constructions Oy (RMC).
How have you settled into your role as HR Director, and what do your day-to-day responsibilities entail? What are the various roles and responsibilities within the HR department?
My role as HR Director has got off to a good start. I’ve quickly settled into the company and received a warm welcome from my colleagues – the induction has been excellent, though there is, of course, still much to learn about the finer details of the business.
The role of the HR Director – and the HR function as a whole – can be summed up in three main areas: Business partner, HR expert, and coach.
As business partners, HR professionals work closely with other departments to support business development. The HR strategy must be aligned with the overall business strategy. HR professionals need to be present in day-to-day operations – only then can they identify development needs related to areas such as skills, organisational development, leadership, and working practices.
An HR professional’s role includes designing, developing, and implementing a range of HR processes and tools. Human resources management duties, such as recruitment and resourcing,
remuneration, performance management, skills and talent development, management culture, and industrial relations – all need to be handled systematically and to a high standard.
As a coach, the HR director supports and challenges management on HR matters – acting as an internal consultant who provides support, guidance, and coaching.
What does a typical workday look like for you? What does your workday look like today?
A typical day for me mainly involves driving forward various development projects, with a particular focus on designing and improving HR process models. My workday also involves actively taking part in day-to-day operations: attending meetings with different departments and offering support, particularly on personnel matters.
Today, I spent time getting to know the design department’s operations, took part in a recruitment process, and had my first meeting with the chief shop steward. I also took care of daily routines, such as approving invoices and similar tasks. No two working days are ever quite the same, which adds just the right amount of variety to the job and keeps everyday life interesting.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I enjoy most is working with people – engaging with a wide range of colleagues and helping them succeed in their roles. It’s rewarding to help shape our work community and drive its development.
A key part of my role is to develop ways of working and processes that support our business. It’s motivating to help create HR solutions that genuinely support the organisation’s goals and day-to-day operations, bringing together strategic vision and hands-on action.
How do you unwind in your free time?
In my free time, I like to relax with my family, spend time at the cottage, go jogging, and enjoy hunting.
Discover what it’s like to work with us: https://vak.fi/fi/vak-tyonantajana/