Julia Järvenpää appointed as Saka's Chief People Officer and member of the Executive Management Team

Saka is a boldly evolving automotive retail operator with the ambition to reshape car sales as a digital frontrunner. As business, technology, and customer expectations change, so do the ways of working, leadership, and competence needs. In this transformation, people are not in a supporting role — they are at the heart of success.

"Growth, digitalization, and the utilization of AI are transforming both the business and the ways we work. However, none of this succeeds without the right competencies, leadership, and culture. Julia has brought strong business-driven HR thinking, energy, and the ability to drive concrete change together with the business. With this appointment, we ensure that the people perspective is represented in the executive team where Saka's next chapter is being built," says CEO Petri Poukkula.

At Saka, Julia has established HR as a true business partner, strengthened people data-driven leadership, and brought the people and culture perspective into business decision-making. She has been instrumental in shaping the practical direction for how competence, work ability, leadership, and the impacts of AI will be managed in the future.

"It is truly exciting to get to build Saka's next phase as a member of the executive team. Saka is a bold, growth-oriented, and strongly forward-moving company where people play a decisive role in success. For me, what matters most in this role is that people management shows up in everyday life through concrete actions: better leadership, stronger competencies, and smarter use of data. When people have the conditions to succeed in their work, it also shows in the customer experience — and that is what sets Saka apart," says Julia Järvenpää.