NEWS / PURPOSE, MISSION, VISION
PURPOSE – MISSION – VISION
PONSSE’S NEW COURSE FOR FUTURE YEARS
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he last time Ponsse’s long-term plans were defined was some ten years ago. “Those plans carried us all the way to today. Back then, we were in a tight spot with our customers. The global financial crisis stopped our factory and our customers’ machines, and we had to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb, including the direction in which we were heading,” Juho Nummela, Ponsse’s president and CEO since 2008, remembers. Discussions on how to solve the challenges often continued until late into the night. The strong guidelines set by Ponsse’s founder Einari Vidgren were the basis for the new plans as well: Ponsse is here for our customers. Without our customers, we would have nothing. “Whenever we were caught between a rock and a hard place, Einari would simplify things. And it always worked. He used to say that once you knew the direction in which you were heading, the rest just needed to be organised. We still adhere to those principles today,” says Nummela. CHANGE ENCOURAGES DEVELOPMENT
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, financial uncertainty and climate change, it was once again time to stop and look into the future. As a result, Ponsse’s Board of Directors approved an updated course for Ponsse – its mission,
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vision and purpose. Ponsse’s heart, i.e. its values, did not change, and customer orientation, the Ponsse spirit, integrity and innovation remained unchanged at the core of Ponsse. Ponsse’s course was corrected to better correspond not only to its business, which has doubled in size, but also to a world that has changed. “Our customers are still at the core of all our operations, and their needs were the catalyst for the changes made now,” says Nummela. “The forest industry and harvesting entrepreneurs have become the focal point of sustainability. The demand for sustainable timber is rapidly increasing, as timber construction becomes more popular, and wood-based raw materials replace fossil-based plastic. At the same time, there is strong demand for environmentally friendly harvesting from all directions.” Sustainability is a strong driving force globally. Ponsse’s new course therefore also focuses heavily on sustainable development goals. Nummela admits that where sustainability is concerned, some development is still required, both in terms of products and operations. “The most important thing is to keep moving forwards, and we’re genuinely committed to this development,” he says.