Oulu hockey club Kärpät announces planned leadership change

Oulu-based ice hockey club Kärpät will see a change in its CEO role after this season, with current CEO Tommi Virkkunen stepping down as part of a planned strategic shift, chairman of the board Juha Junno told Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Junno confirmed the decision was made during the club’s corporate strategy review in September 2023 and was not the result of internal conflicts. Virkkunen, who has led Kärpät since 2017, announced his intention to leave at an appropriate time, allowing the club to begin the search for a successor.

Under Virkkunen’s leadership, Kärpät expanded into a multi-sector group with significant restaurant and festival operations, including events like Ihku and Qstock. The group now employs over 250 people and reports annual revenue of around €35 million. However, Junno acknowledged criticism that the club’s athletic performance had taken a backseat to commercial ventures.

“It’s true we haven’t succeeded on the sports side,” Junno said, adding that the club had faced unfair criticism. “Now, measures under the new sports strategy are being implemented. The ship won’t turn overnight, but we believe in a better future and are working hard toward it.”

The club has begun the search for a new CEO with the help of an external headhunter, aiming to make a decision during the current season to allow for a smooth transition. Junno, who served as Kärpät’s CEO for 21 seasons before Virkkunen, hopes the next leader will be a long-term appointment, noting that frequent changes in such a large organisation are undesirable.

As part of the restructuring, sports director Kimmo Kapanen’s responsibilities will expand significantly. He will now oversee travel and equipment budgets for both the Liiga team and the under-20 squad. Junno dismissed rumours of conflicts between Virkkunen and Kapanen, calling them misunderstandings and unfounded speculation.

“There haven’t been any real problems,” Junno said. “Kapanen has negotiated player contracts independently and received an approved budget from the board. Additional funds were only requested for injuries or reinforcements.”

The club’s new strategy places a stronger emphasis on athletic performance, following two consecutive seasons where Kärpät failed to advance past the regular season. Despite recent struggles, Kärpät remains the most successful Finnish Liiga team of the 21st century, with seven championships and multiple finals appearances.

Junno admitted that the board may have made poor personnel decisions and misunderstood the needs of the sports side. Corrective steps, including hiring Kapanen, renewing the coaching staff, and strengthening the roster, are already underway. On Tuesday, the club announced the signing of homegrown forward Eetu Päkkilä for next season.

“Our goal is to build a competitive team for next season,” Junno said.