Sales Director Ville Kuitunen appreciates the work of Steveco employees: everyone wants to take care of the customer’s needs safely, correctly and on time.

Ville Kuitunen, started as Sales Director of Steveco on 1 April 2023, has solid experience in logistics and harbour work. When he was young, he worked as a forklift driver and also loaded and unloaded trucks and containers. Kuitunen has also worked at Stella in Hietanen as a supervisor and terminal manager. He was Managing Director at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics in the Kotka terminal, while at the Port of HaminaKotka he was Sales Manager and Director of Traffic Operations.

A career in the port has not been a single-minded choice – more of a coincidence, he says. Neither did Kuitunen’s family guide him into the field.

“My great-grandfather seems to have come closest. He worked as a cobbler near the Port of Kotka and probably also mended the shoes of the dockworkers.”

The port has been a major employer in Kymenlaakso, and some of his friends worked there. Kuitunen more or less drifted there too, as he puts it himself. The work turned out to be such fun that it practically swept him along.

After his youth, he moved to Helsinki to study, but returned to the town of his birth, Kotka, for work.

Old acquaintances become colleagues

Kuitunen was attracted to Steveco when an interesting position became available. Kuitunen likes sales and solving problems with customers.

“Steveco is a reputable local company – actually, it’s already an institution with strong roots in Kymenlaakso.”

Kuitunen knew several Steveco employees during his career, which also made the transition easier. Some of the customers were also already familiar.

He points out that it is difficult to imagine another company in the field in Finland with such solid combined experience and expertise.

“Some of the staff’s expertise has grown over decades, but there’s also younger blood, of course. Joining a company is easier when you know there’s support there for you. There’s always someone to ask. My colleagues have been very supportive, like coaches.”

Kuitunen appreciates the attitude of his work community: no nonsense, at work you do business.

“It’s important for salespeople that customer orientation is ingrained in people’s thinking throughout the company. For us, the work mentality means that everyone wants to take care of the customer’s needs safely, correctly and on time.”

According to Kuitunen, working together is fun, too. The atmosphere is down to earth and friendly, and humour connects people.

Surprised by the extensive range

The new sales director has been positively surprised by how many different things Steveco does. Of course, it was clear to him in advance that the company was a port operator that provides a broad range of services. Instead, the surprise has been how widely Steveco offers transport, cargo, forwarding and storage outside the actual port operations.

“We really have something to sell!”

The near future and the direction of development of the recession are of concern to everyone. Kuitunen thinks that in such a situation, the only thing that helps is to keep moving forward.

“Trends are what they are, but what goes down also comes back up. Paralysis or depression is no help. Trends are not changed by any one person, but together we can look for new opportunities and be active. Even in a recession, our task is to take care of our customers’ affairs and at the same time create something new. It also provides additional motivation for work.”

Kuitunen says he gets the biggest kick from a difficult situation being turned into a victory by a group of people working together. What else would be more rewarding at work, he asks.

In his opinion, however, the very best thing about work is freedom. He regulates his own workday, and if it seems boring, it means he should take a look in the mirror.

According to him, it is part of the working culture in Steveco that people are trusted and given responsibility. And the balance works well, Kuitunen thinks.

“As a creative and curious person, the company’s culture suits me well. I get to be where the action is.”

Thrash metal and classical

Work should never be all there is in a person’s life. Kuitunen lives with his family in Pyhtää, and he makes sure that there is also time for his hobbies. For a man who plays the guitar, among other instruments, music is important.

Although Kuitunen is unwilling to name a single favourite, he says his favourites include “all the good music from Slayer to Schubert.”

He also goes to gigs. Especially memorable is a Kiss concert from years ago, after which an acquaintance of his managed to arrange a meeting with the band members backstage.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience.

Ville Kuitunen, 46 in brief

• Born in Kotka, lives in Pyhtää.
• Began as Sales Director of Steveco on 1 April 2023.
• Trained as a logistics engineer and has also gained a master’s degree in project and sales management.
• His past positions include Terminal Manager at Stella in Hietanen, Managing Director at the Kotka terminal of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, and Sales Manager and Traffic Manager at the Port of HaminaKotka.
• Family: a wife and two children
• Hobbies: a wide-ranging interest in playing and listening to music, football as a spectator. Supports Kotka’s own team, FC KTP, and AS Roma.

Text: Kirsi Riipinen
Photo: Marko Laukkarinen