Mikko Tepponen joins FLSmidth as CDO

Mikko Tepponen is now FLSmidth’s new chief digital officer (CDO) and will focus on accelerating the digital transformation of the business and its portfolio of digital offerings to optimize operations for customers in the mining industry.

Tepponen has prior experience with transformation journeys for other industries and a track record of employing digital solutions for more sustainable and resource-efficient practices.

Tepponen was previously VP of digital with Wartsila, a company delivering smart technology, and senior manager of digital services at Outotec.

Tepponen highlights the link between digitalization and sustainability:

“Digitalization and sustainability go hand in hand. When you succeed in digitalizing key processes in any large-scale industry, you tend to see clear benefits in areas such as energy consumption, waste reduction and resource use. Without a serious focus on digitalization, it will be impossible for us at FLSmidth to reach our MissionZero sustainability ambitions.”

Tepponen’s priorities are to accelerate digitalization projects across the company and to deliver an expanded portfolio to customers based on direct collaboration and co-creation.

“It should be our clear aim to develop new digital solutions in tandem with our customers. We will have a strong focus on co-creating solutions that respond directly to customer needs and to opportunities we identify for miners to increase sustainable productivity. Customer participation will be of primary importance on this journey. I am a strong believer in joint projects as they ensure a solid business focus for innovation and invite customers and third parties to approach us to work collaboratively.”

Tepponen’s role also includes responsibility for the entire internal IT setup for FLSmidth employees globally, where his priority is to strengthen and align all processes and IT architectures across the organization.

Tepponen will work out of the company’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.

FLSmidth delivers sustainable productivity for the global mining and cement industries.

The company’s engineering, equipment and service solutions enable customers to improve performance, drive down costs and reduce their environmental impacts.

With MissionZero, the company’s ambition for 2030 is to reach zero emissions and zero waste (of water and energy) in cement production and mining.

(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)