Nov 27, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. The Executive Board of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) has appointed Timo Jaatinen the next President of the Federation. He is currently the Managing Director of the Finnish Port Association and will transfer to the new position during the first months of 2010, FFIF said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. Timo Jaatinen succeeds Anne Brunila, who in October took up a new position in the executive management of the Finnish energy company Fortum. "Timo Jaatinen's strong lobbying background, understanding of business life and society as well as his experience of EU-level issues and participation in the activities of European industry organisations make him well qualified to serve as the President of the Federation,” says FFIF Chairman Kari Jordan, CEO of the Metsäliitto Group. “Strengthening the competitiveness of the forest industry is of great significance to the entire national economy of Finland. We cannot recover from the economic downturn if the operating environment of export industries is not looked after in a way that establishes new openings for the future success of Finland. The majority of the forest industry’s production is exported, and this further emphasises the importance of a cost-effective transport and logistics sector,” says Timo Jaatinen.