The Managing Director of Valio Sweden is leaving the company after almost six years, whilst Valio in Finland has announced that its Group CEO will retire at the end of 2026.

Robert Auselius is to leave his position as Managing Director of Valio Sweden in August 2026, after nearly six years in the role. The news emerged via a post on Valio Sweden’s LinkedIn profile. Auselius has chosen to leave the company to pursue new opportunities outside Valio.

During his almost six years at the helm, Valio Sweden has doubled its turnover and grown its market share. According to the LinkedIn post, the company has during this period been named both Career Company of the Year and Supplier of the Year in Sweden, and on the sustainability front Valio Sweden has introduced fossil-free truck and ferry transport.

As part of the management changes in Sweden, Valio Sweden has also appointed Gerda Sigurjónsdóttir as its new HR Director. She joined the company’s management team in May 2026.

New CEO from the new year
In Finland, Valio announced on 8 June that long-serving Group Chief Executive Annikka Hurme will retire at the end of 2026. The Board of Directors has appointed Matti Lehmus as the new CEO with effect from 1 January 2027. Hurme will remain in post until the end of the year to ensure a smooth handover.

Hurme joined Valio in 1989 and held a range of specialist and leadership positions before becoming CEO in 2014.

Her successor, Matti Lehmus, joins from Finnish energy company Neste, where he held several senior positions, including President and CEO from 2022 to 2024. He also serves on the board of directors of Finnish chemicals company Kemira.

By Lene Mikkelsen Walsh – edited by Maja Løvstrup