Olli Heikkilä

CEO and Commercial Leader | FMCG & Retail | P&L Accountability | Growth and Challenger Brands

Helsinki Metropolitan Area

About

CEO and commercial leader with 30+ years of experience building challenger brands, driving growth and delivering profitable business with full P&L accountability. I have spent more than 30 years in the Finnish beverage industry working across brands, sales, category management, retailer partnerships, commercial strategy and general management. My experience has been built at the intersection of consumer insight, retail reality and industrial execution. Most recently, I held full P&L accountability for a €25M beverage business delivering a 14% EBIT margin. My background combines: • strong commercial leadership • deep understanding of grocery retail and route-to-market • brand and portfolio strategy • profitable growth and value creation • category growth thinking • and the ability to turn strategy into execution Throughout my career, I have worked closely with: • major retail chains and buying organizations • brand positioning and portfolio development • launches and commercialization • pricing and profitability • negotiation and long-term partnerships • cross-functional leadership • challenger brand building in highly competitive markets I believe the strongest consumer brands combine operational excellence with emotional relevance. Sustainable growth is created when strong brands, customer value and operational excellence reinforce each other. I am particularly interested in businesses where growth is created through: • strong brands • customer understanding • commercial sharpness • fast decision-making • and the courage to challenge category conventions As a leader, I value courage, accountability and long-term value creation. I believe businesses succeed when customer value, strong brands and operational excellence reinforce each other.

Experience

  • Chief Executive Officer at Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas Oy
    Mar 2024 - Apr 2026 · 2 yrs 2 mos

  • Olvi Plc (31 yrs 7 mos)
    • Marketing Director
      May 2011 - Mar 2024 · 12 yrs 11 mos

    • Brand and Communications Director
      Aug 2007 - Apr 2011 · 3 yrs 9 mos

    • Marketing Director
      Jan 2006 - Jul 2007 · 1 yr 7 mos

  • Insurance Agent at LähiTapiola
    Jan 1992 - May 1995 · 3 yrs 5 mos