Apr 22, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. Ilkka Hamala has been appointed President and CEO of Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab with effect from 1 September 2008. The company's current President and CEO Erkki Varis will retire on 31 August 2008 having reached the retirement age agreed in his contract. Ilkka Hämälä obtained his M.Sc. degree in engineering from Helsinki University of Technology in 1986. He has since held appointments with United Paper Mills and has held several posts within Botnia, most recently as Senior Vice President with responsibility for pulp production and logistics. The forest industry company Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab - marketing name Botnia - manufactures high quality bleached pulp grades under the name Botnia. Botnia is owned by M-real Oyj, Metsaliitto Osuuskunta, and UPM-Kymmene Oyj. The company's pulp mills are located in Joutseno, Kaskinen, Kemi, Rauma, and Aanekoski.