Photos: Aker Yards
FULL STEAM AHEAD
Yrjö Julin steers
the course for Aker Yards
History was made as Yrjö Julin was
group and one of the world’s four largest
has come to digest the purchases made on
appointed the President & CEO of
shipbuilders. The Group manufactures so-
Kjelstad’s watch and fully integrate them
phisticated cruise ships, ferries, merchant
into the Group.
Aker Yards in June 2007. After all,
Aker Yards is a Norwegian listed
vessels, as well as offshore and specialised
“It is a different time period altogeth-
vessels at 18 shipyards in eight countries.
er and one that I believe is well suited for
company and it is quite unprece-
my personality and type of leadership,”
dented for big international corpo-
MAKING THE ROUNDS
rations to recruit Finnish executives
Since summer 2006, Julin has been over-
for their top positions.
seeing shipyards in Finland and France, but
SIGNIFICANT OWNERSHIP CHANGE
he was not so familiar with many other in-
The “Julin Era” has kicked off with some
Julin says.
ternational operations of the Group as he
extra excitement. Eyebrows were raised
am very satisfied that the Board
“I
took the helm. Since his appointment, Ju-
around the industry as the Korean pow-
of Directors saw it fit to cross the
lin has been travelling from one Aker Yards
erhouse STX announced it had acquired
boundaries of nationality with regards to
shipyard to another - Germany, Norway,
39.2 per cent of Aker Yards in October.
this appointment,” Julin himself comment-
Romania, Ukraine, France…
The Aker Yards Board replied it will review
ed at the time.
While travelling around the world,
strategic alternatives to maximise the value
Of course, for those in the know, the
Julin has had the opportunity to talk with
of Aker Yards. As of yet, STX has not re-
selection of Julin (49) hardly comes as a
the management and personnel of the
quested changes in the Board. According
surprise. After all, Julin has been with Ak-
shipyards. In this way, the new CEO was
to Julin, dialogue has been initiated with
er Yards since 2002, first as President of
able to get a clearer view of the big pic-
the Koreans and the first meeting has al-
Aker Finnyards and since 2004 as Presi-
ture. While visiting each shipyard, he also
ready taken place.
dent of Aker Yards Cruise & Ferries Busi-
took time to communicate his message to
ness Area. Within a period of five years,
the employees.
his career has been on a steady climb inside the organisation.
A quick comparison: When Yrjö Ju-
Julin has stated that his vision for Aker Yards is to continue building its global
“From my perspective, the visits have
leading position in both the offshore and
been very interesting and the reception has
specialised vessel and cruise vessel mar-
been excellent all over,” Julin says.
ket and to continue the repositioning of
lin started as the head of operations at
Julin succeeds Karl Erik Kjelstad who
the Rauma shipyard in 2002, there were
served as the Aker Yards CEO from Janu-
1,000 people working under him. Current-
ary 2003. Kjelstad left Aker Yards to join
According to Julin, Aker Yards has
ly, as the CEO of the entire Group, Julin has
the executive management team of Aker
very broad-spanning expertise and this is
20,000 employees around the world.
the merchant vessel business to be a niche
player for specialised merchant vessels.
ASA. Julin says that under Kjelstad’s lead-
something that the Group cherishes and
Julin now occupies a position that
ership, Aker Yards has become renowned
wants to hold onto. Constant drive for im-
is quite remarkable by Finnish standards.
for its bold combination of strategic and
provement is another characteristic of the
Aker Yards is Europe’s largest shipbuilding
operational development. Now the time
Nordic company.
4
seatec 2008