Human Resources 

In 2009, Kemira created shared operating models for working in a global organization and for managing this work. Crystallized goals now guide Kemira’s employees as they bring the company’s strategy to life.

At year-end 2009, Kemira employed 8,493 persons. 76 percent were located in Europe, Middle East and Africa, 15 percent in North America, 5 percent in South America and 4 percent in the Asia and Pacific region. Tikkurila’s portion of the personnel was 3,538 persons.

Kemira is committed to creating ideal working conditions for its personnel. Everyone is entitled to contribute in the development of both their work environment and individual competencies. Leadership development is important as well, for supervisors bear an important responsibility: personnel management.

In the wake of the strategy’s renewal also Kemira’s corporate values and ways of working were discussed and renewed together with the personnel. At the beginning of 2009, Kemira had a recently renewed strategy and a restructured organization that had been aligned to fulfill that strategy. At the end of the year, this global and multidimensional organization was already working at full capacity.

“During that time, we wanted to make sure that all employees understood how their work was related to our strategy. It is important, especially in a global matrix organization, that everyone knows his or her role and the related goals and development needs,” says Eeva Salonen, Executive Vice President for Human Resources.

All units adopted shared models for discussing personal goals and development needs as part of general work management. The company was able to familiarize nearly all supervisors with this performance management model during 2009. “We will continue on this course, while developing the model further,” Salonen says.