Hannu Melarti, LL.M
Hannu Melarti, LL.M
Professional Member
Atlanta, GA
As owner and president of his own firm, Hannu Melarti is a man on a mission: Bring back sexy! And not just any sexy, Hannu says, bring back paper sexy!
Not sure what Hannu’s talking about? Chances are then you haven’t seen his rousing presentations, such as the one at PaperCon ’08, and subsequent write ups in Paper360 and Frontline Focus. A man of many talents – and careers – Hannu knows of what he speaks. As former President of Kemira North America, Metso North America, Valmet North America and Sunds Defibrator North America, he has spent a good chunk of his career in the P&P industry. But before paper, he also tried his hand at nursing, policing, law and music, among others. But it’s exactly that varied background, Hannu says, that creates unique, vibrant leaders.
Hannu’s firm belief, passion actually, is to breathe new life into the paper and pulp industry – to instill a Silicon Valley-type focus, where creativity reigns and conformity is consigned to ignominy. Says Hannu: “Sexiness is a matter of choice, not destiny.” It can be achieved, he advises, by unleashing the creative power of your employees. “Set them free, trust their judgment and focus your energy on areas where your input brings value,” he says. “Sexiness requires the wisdom to trust and the courage to fail.”
TAPPI is one of the ways, Hannu says, that paper professionals can engage in the industry and make it more exciting. He believes that members can reinvigorate the field and bring back all the excitement that was there in the early days. It is through his TAPPI membership that he has gained an appreciation for not only the challenges facing the industry, but also the many opportunities. “Because of TAPPI, I have had the privilege of getting to know many very talented doers and thinkers whose dedication and conviction have convinced me there is a great future for us.”
Q. Why Did You Decide To Join TAPPI?
I have been an individual member since 2007 but a corporate member since 1996. I felt it was time for me to engage myself personally and to actively contribute to the necessary renewal of and the continued success of the pulp and paper industry that has been so good to me for more than 25 years.
Q. Please describe your involvement with TAPPI over the years.
In 2010, I initiated and participated in a TAPPI taskforce with the objective to analyze and recommend to TAPPI and its members how we could utilize social media to reinvigorate our industry and to bring back all that excitement that used to characterize our industry in the early days, just like the excitement that we can today see in places like Silicon Valley. I strongly believe that social media will be a very important tool in bringing sexy back.
Q. How has TAPPI helped you in your career pursuits?
TAPPI has helped me get a deeper and more nuanced appreciation of the challenges and opportunities that our industry and we are facing. Through TAPPI I have also had the privilege of getting to know many very talented doers and thinkers whose dedication and conviction have convinced me there is a great future waiting for us. Finally, TAPPI has from time to time very graciously provided me a platform for bringing my thoughts and ideas to a broader audience.
Q. Tell us about some of your interests outside of TAPPI and your professional life.
We have a place in the North Carolina mountains which has given me a chance to reconnect with ordinary people, do ordinary things such as to chop firewood and to mow the grass, help my wife with her vegetable garden, spend time with my grandchildren, just find peace and harmony in life and play guitar on the porch.
Q. Can you share a unique or fun fact about yourself?
My big hobby in my youth was playing the guitar, but then came marriage, children, career and other thing along and took priority. However, some 10 years ago I rediscovered music and now I play my guitar most every day. Also, as I grew older and (hopefully) wiser, it became increasingly important to me to find a balanced approach to life.
Q. Closing sentiments?
We need to make our industry more interesting to current and future employees, and also to engage them in making our respective companies (and the industry) the most exciting and successful career out there.