Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, July 2025 – Petra Miesmaa has taken on a new leadership role as Vice President, Global People Operations at Valmet. In this global capacity, she leads a 200-member People Operations organization across regions, supporting Valmet’s mission of creating a positive and productive employee experience while ensuring both global alignment and local compliance. Petra is also a key member of the company’s People and Culture Leadership Team.
Petra joined Valmet in late 2023 and served as Director, HR Operations EMEA for nearly two years. In this role, she was responsible for developing and harmonizing HR policies across 26 countries, supporting a workforce of over 12,000 employees, and fostering collaboration with employee representation bodies like the European Works Council.
Prior to Valmet, Petra spent over five years at GE HealthCare, holding several strategic HR leadership roles, including HR Business Partner Northern Europe, Country HR Manager Nordics, and Country HR Manager Finland. She led large HR teams and worked across multiple regions on initiatives related to succession planning, talent development, cultural transformation, and HR technology implementation.
Earlier, she held senior HR roles at Riverty, EVRY, and Luvata, where she played a critical role in organizational transformation, mergers, and global HR system development. She also brings experience in research and coaching from her time at Harvard Medical School and University of Massachusetts Lowell.
About Valmet
Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries. The company serves customers across more than 40 countries with over 19,000 professionals. With a strong legacy of over 220 years, Valmet focuses on continuous innovation and sustainability, delivering automation and flow control solutions that improve customer performance every day. In 2023, Valmet reported net sales of approximately EUR 5.5 billion.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
