Anttila, who is currently senior vice president of finance and control for the Metsliitto Group, will start with M-real on 1 July 2004 in the role of senior executive vice president.

On 1 October he will then commence in the role of chief operating officer, and from 1 January 2005 he will become president and chief executive on Jaakkola's retirement.

Jaakkola became chief executive of M-real on 1 December 2001, having previously been Mets-Serla's senior executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Anttila has previously worked for Mets-Serla as chief financial officer, and as senior executive vice president of Mets-Botnia and chief executive of Mets Tissue.

Story by Andy Scott