Sami Pauni has been appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel. He will be a member of UPM’s Group Executive Team and report to Massimo Reynaudo, President and CEO. He will assume his role by January 24, 2026, at the latest.
Sami Pauni joins UPM from Huhtamäki Oyj where he has held a variety of senior positions since 2006 in legal as well as in sustainability, corporate responsibility, risk management, and intellectual property. He has been a member of Huhtamäki’s Global Executive Team since 2015, most recently in the position of EVP, Sustainability, Corporate Affairs and Legal. He holds a Master of Laws degree. He is a Finnish citizen and will be based in Helsinki, Finland.
Sami Pauni succeeds Juha Mäkelä, who has reached his contractual retirement age after serving as UPM’s Group General Counsel since 2005.
Juha Mäkelä will continue in his current position until the end of 2025 and as Senior Adviser to the company during the first half of 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.
UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers.
