CEO MONTHLY / C-SUITE AWARDS 2024 21 Pizza Chain COO of the Year 2024 (Finland): Kimmo Hamalainen Boasting a presence across a myriad of Finland’s largest cities – including Helsinki, Turku, and Tampere – Via Tribunali is an adored pizza chain that has spent its years dominating the region’s restaurant sphere. Beloved by food connoisseurs, locals, and tourists alike, the chain’s menu has delighted and amazed time and time again, and yet it wouldn’t have been remotely possible were it not for the exceptional organisation going on behind the scenes. On the surface, Via Tribunali is a flourishing pizza chain – beyond that, it’s a highly skilled entity that has spent countless hours training its team to guide the collective through its various growth phases. Working in tandem with both the management and wider teams alike, Kimmo is the COO responsible for influencing the decisions made in order to maximise the wellbeing of Via Tribunali. Detailing how he feels beyond blessed to work alongside such a diversely talented team, Kimmo has developed a concentrated focus on ensuring that everybody is on the same wavelength. Only then can a collective truly thrive, and it’s thanks to his impeccable management skills that Via Tribunali has been able to achieve feat after feat each and every day. However, to truly understand how Kimmo came to possess such a detailed level of skill and knowhow, we must venture into his past. For 25 years, Kimmo has immersed himself in the restaurant business – initially beginning his venture as a teenage dishwasher, he quickly came to realise that he had a certain affinity for the wider industry, and went above and beyond to pursue his potential. To him, interacting and sharing experiences with others has been integral to his growth, and it’s this very approach to learning that essentially granted him the insight he needed to have a meaningful impact on those around him. Whether he’s creating the optimal atmosphere for continuous growth, or supporting and mentoring managers in a variety of aspects – including mentally and physically – Kimmo has dedicated himself to building people up to be the best possible versions of themselves. In doing so, not only is he able to empower them to continuously pursue excellence, but he’s able to revel in the joy of knowing that his influence played an integral role in lifting them up to all new heights. In Kimmo’s own words – “To see someone grow has always been my best reward in management roles.” Using his role as COO as a conduit, Kimmo Hamalainen has become a valued icon in the region’s restaurant sphere, with Via Tribunali’s talented team benefitting from his genuine desire to see every individual succeed for the sake of themselves and the wider company alikw. Recognised as both a mentor and leader, Kimmo has truly redefined what the role of COO means to him, granting him access to the tools needed to empower each person around him. Thanks to his exceptional eye for restaurant management, and his personal approach to leadership, Kimmo has come to accumulate an awardwinning status – one that we’re certain will only strengthen his resolve as he continues to thrive as one of Via Tribunali’s revered leaders. Contact Details Contact: Kimmo Hamalainen Company: Via Tribunali Web Address: https:// viatribunali.fi/en/via-tribunali/ May24462 It’s no secret that, in the world of business, COOs hold an immense amount of responsibility when it comes to the overarching success of a company. As a CEO’s right hand, the COO is expected to have an astute awareness of how to effortlessly navigate their respective markets, and feed back operational strategies that have been specifically crafted to keep their collective relevant. Within Finland’s restaurant industry, nobody champions this art better than Kimmo Hamalainen. COO of Via Tribunali, Kimmo leverages his extensive experience to guarantee success for what is widely recognised as Finland’s most cherished pizza chain.
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