Kesko to strengthen the development of e-commerce and multi-channel services

5 februari 2013 KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 5.2.2013 AT 09.35 1(2) Kesko is focusing on the development of e-commerce, personalised marketing and multi-channel services and information systems, competencies and human resources supporting them. Kesko's Service Centre for Customer Information and E-commerce supports K-stores and chains in transforming customer communications online, and making them customer specific and interactive, while ensuring that K-Plussa's business partners have the information and tools for implementing customer specific services and communications. The development of K-Plus Oy and its customer loyalty system will be an integral part of the Service Centre operations in the future. K-Plussa is the most comprehensive and diversified customer loyalty programme in Finland with over 3.7 Finnish K-Plussa cardholders in nearly 2.2 million households. K-Plus Oy is one of Kesko Corporation's subsidiaries. Mika Leiponen, M.Sc. (Food Sciences), 47, has been appointed K-Plus Oy's Managing Director starting from 1 February 2013. Leiponen has been the Director of Kesko's Service Centre for Customer Information and E-commerce since 1 July 2012, before which his positions included Anttila Oy's Deputy Managing Director and NetAnttila's Sales Director. Musta Pörssi is one of the best known home technology chains in Finland. The chain has revised its operations and adopted an operating model in which customers are primarily served online at the mustapörssi.fi retail website and in Musta Pörssi stores located in shopping centres. The mustaporssi.fi online store offers customers a revised and modern retail website for home technology. The objective of the operating model is to improve competitiveness, enhance operations and respond to the changes in the operating environment of the home technology market. Musta Pörssi Ltd is one of Kesko Corporation's subsidiaries and part of the home and speciality goods division's business. Matti Pohjola, M.Sc. (Econ.), 38, has been appointed Musta Pörssi Ltd's Managing Director starting from 1 March 2013. Matti Pohjola joined Anttila Oy in 2011 and he has acted as Customer Relationships Director in the Kodin1 chain. Before that, he was the acting Sales Director of Ikea Oy Finland. Must Pörssi Ltd's present Managing Director Leena Havikari will be responsible for the management of the Musta Pörssi retailer chain operations and for launching the K-customer contract model. Kodin1 is a department store chain specialising in home goods and interior decoration, which serves its customers in 12 department stores in nine localities in Finland and online. The chain offers customers the best ideas and services for home decoration. A special emphasis is on the development of targeted electronic customer communications and a multi-channel approach based on customer needs. Heli Törrönen, M.Sc. (Econ.), 43, has been appointed Anttila Oy's Customer Relationships Director for the Kodin1 department stores for home goods and interior decoration starting from 1 March 2013.  Previously, Heli Törrönen has acted as Customer Relationships Director and Planner in K-Plus Oy and before that, as, for instance, Planner in Dagmar Oy and as Marketing Manager in Elisa Oyj. Photos of Mika Leiponen, Matti Pohjola, Heli Törrönen and Leena Havikari can be downloaded from http://aineistopankki.kesko.fi. Further information is available from Senior Vice President Minna Kurunsaari, home and speciality goods trade and Kesko's customer information and e-commerce projects, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22261. This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Kesko Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1675465]