Summa Defence strengthens its Innovation and Development Expertise

Summa Defence Plc
Press release 3.9.2025 at 14:00 EEST

Summa Defence Plc has appointed Kimmo Nieminen as the company’s Director of Development and Innovation. Nieminen brings over 30 years of leadership and engineering experience in the space, maritime, and defense sectors, including work with NASA. He has held international executive roles overseeing high-tech, defense, and critical infrastructure development projects, including multinational initiatives worth hundreds of millions of euros. His career spans the management of complex operations, development of technological systems, and opening of new markets both in Finland and globally.

In his new role, Nieminen will lead Summa Defence’s strategic growth and innovation efforts. This includes expanding into new international markets and technology domains, building long-term development programs and partnerships, and guiding the development paths of new products and services from concept to market.

“Kimmo has a long and extensive career and expertise in the defense sector both in Finland and abroad. He is a globally well-connected defense professional. Kimmo has also been involved in nationally significant space development projects, which brings us essential expertise in that area as well,” says Summa Defence CEO Jussi Holopainen.

In addition to Nieminen, Summa Defence’s innovation and development work is led by Head of Technology Mika Järvenpää and Director of Business Unit Pekka Kemppainen.

Järvenpää has broad and diverse experience in the technology industry, particularly in project and development management roles. He has worked in international organizations, overseeing product conceptualization, development, and production launch. A key strength is his close collaboration between product development and manufacturing, enabling efficient and seamless transitions from development to production. He also has strong expertise in building supply chains, technology transfers, and related corporate arrangements. Järvenpää has systematically developed processes and operating models that support operational efficiency and continuous improvement.

Before joining Summa Defence, Kemppainen worked at Ioncor Oy (formerly Valmet Automotive EV Power Oy) as Production Director. He has over 30 years of experience in Finnish manufacturing, export, and maritime industries, focusing on manufacturing engineering, product development, project management, and leadership roles. He contributes pragmatic approaches to operational development and daily operations to maintain seamless business efficiency across teams and organizations.

SUMMA DEFENCE PLC

More information:
Jussi Holopainen, CEO
Phone: +358 44 517 4543
Email: jussi.holopainen@summadefence.com

Media contact:
Tommi Manninen, Chief Communications Officer
Phone: +358 400 437 515
Email: tommi.manninen@summadefence.com

Summa Defence in brief

Summa Defence Plc is a Finnish defense and security technology group supporting industry growth and strengthening industrial production capacity amid geopolitical change. Summa Defence focuses on dual-use technologies related to security of supply, situational awareness, mobility, and defense, which benefit the civilian, security, and defense sectors while strengthening comprehensive security, security of supply, and crisis management capabilities.

The shares of Summa Defence Plc are listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Sweden (SUMMAS) and Finland (SUMMA). www.summadefence.fi/en/

The Company’s Certified Adviser is Augment Partners AB, info@augment.se, tel. +46 8-604 22 55.

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