Management

Thomas Körmendi is the CEO and President of the Elopak Group, a position he has held since joining the company in 2018. With over 30 years of extensive management and business development experience, Körmendi has made significant contributions to several international companies. Before his tenure at Elopak, he served as the CEO of Kezzler AS and was a member of the Board of Directors of One Nordic AB and Nordic Paper. Currently, he is the chair of the Board of Directors at Norican. Throughout his career, Körmendi has held various leadership roles, including CEO of the Relacom Group, Interim CEO of Cardo Flow Solutions, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Bulgaria, Turkey, Caucasus, and Hungary, and Head of Tetra Pak North Europe. He is Danish and holds a Master of Science in Economics from Copenhagen Business School.

Bent K. Axelsen is the Group’s CFO. He joined the Group in 2019. Axelsen is an experienced executive with broad international experience across a range of professions ranging from finance to business development, marketing, product management and business operations. In addition to Norway, Axelsen has particular business experience from Asia, after living two years in Singapore and 4 years in Thailand. Prior to joining the Group, Axelsen spent more than 15 years in Yara International ASA where he held several managing positions including the position as CFO & SVP Global Business Excellence, SVP Marketing & Business Development, CFO Crop Nutrition and Vice President and Country Manager Thailand. In addition, Axelsen has held several positions in Norsk Hydro including the position as Business Development Manager in Hydro Agri and analyst in the Corporate Strategy Team. Axelsen holds a Master’s degree in Economics from BI Norwegian Business School. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Yara International ASA (CFO & SVP Global Business Excellence and SVP Marketing & Business Development respectively).

Nete Bechmann is the Group’s Chief Human Resources Officer. She joined the Group in 2020. Bechmann has more than 30 years’ experience within human resources, leadership and finance. Prior to joining the Group, Bechmann held the position as executive HR business partner in Vestas Wind Systems AS, she has also held several HR positions within Arla Foods. Nete Bechmann has a Graduate Diploma in Accounting. Current directorships and senior management positions: Aarhus Katedral Gymnasium (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Business Aarhus/International Community (member of executive committee), Vestas Wind Systems A/S (executive HR business partner).

Matthias Finking is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Equipment and Services. Finking joined the Group in September 2025. Finking holds an MBA in Business administration and a Ph.D. in Business and Economics, both from Technical University of Dortmund. Prior to joining the Group, Finking was Vice President at GEA Group and acting as the Managing Director of the two companies GEA TDS GmbH and GEA Brewery Systems GmbH, with full P&L responsibility for both entities and overseeing the integration. With a career spanning over 15 years, Finking has held senior leadership roles across various industries and functions, including engineering, project management, and corporate development. Before becoming the Managing Director of the two entities Finking was part of the Extended Division Board of the Liquid & Powder Division. His extensive experience includes driving project management excellence at GEA, restructuring large business operations, and leading significant operational transformations in both the dairy and brewery sectors. Before GEA Finking was working for several years in different roles in the Automotive supplier industry. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Managing Director GEA TDS GmbH & GEA Brewery Systems GmbH, member of the extended Division Board Liquid & Powder of GEA Group.

Thea Corwin Bristøl is the Group’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. She joined the Group in 2023. Bristøl has broad experience across professions ranging from strategy, business development and strategic marketing and communications. Throughout her career, she has worked for large international companies with well-renowned brands within the following industries: shipping and maritime, IT and digitalization, as well as packaging. Prior to joining the Group, Thea Corwin Bristøl spent a decade in Wilhelmsen Group holding several positions. She has also worked in EVRY as a chief consultant within strategy, digitalization and change management, before leading the establishment of the Tietoevry brand. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business with focus on International Marketing from University of Technology, Sydney in Australia and a Master’s degree in International Political Economy from Warwick University in the UK. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Elopak ASA (Director of Brand, Marketing and Communications), Tietoevry (Chief Marketing Officer) and EVRY (Head of Change Communications and Strategic Initiatives).

Ivan Ferrini is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Packaging and Procurement. He joined the Group in 2024. Ferrini has extensive experience in the operations of international large scale corporations, specializing in Supply Chain strategy, performance turnaround and operational excellence. Prior to joining the Group, Ferrini held the position as Head of Global Operations at multinational lighting organization Signify, where he was responsible for supply chain and manufacturing across Europe, America, Asia and Australia. Ferrini has also served as Director of Operations and Operational Excellence at Essity, a Swedish hygiene and health company. In addition, he has held several managing positions including the position as Engagement Manager in the Operations practice at McKinsey & Company, and Operations Manager at Procter & Gamble. Ferrini holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florence. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Signify (Head of Global Operations), Essity Italy SpA (board member), Cartografica Galeotti SpA (board member).

Uwe Schulze is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Product and Development. He joined the Group in 2024. Schulze is a seasoned strategist with more than 25 years’ experience in roles ranging from technical service to R&D, business development and innovation management. He is highly skilled in developing innovative and sustainable products both in the speciality chemicals and paper industry. Prior to joining the Group, Schulze served as Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at Felix Schoeller Group. In addition, he has held several managing positions in Synthomer plc including the position as Director for Transformation, Innovation Director for Functional Solutions, Director for Research and Development, and Senior Manager for Technical Service and Marketing. Schulze holds a PhD in Chemistry with focus on Polymer Sciences from the University of Bayreuth in Germany. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Felix Schoeller Group (Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation), Synthomer plc (Director for Transformation and Innovation Director for Functional Solutions respectively)

Stephen Naumann is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Region Europe North and India. He has been a member of Elopak Group Leadership Team since 2007. Naumann has nearly 30 years of experience within Elopak, starting as Sales and Marketing Manager in 1992. He took several steps during the following years with the first milestone as General Manager of Elopak GmbH Germany in 1997. Followed by taking the additional responsibility for the NL and UK markets. In 2005 he became VP Northern Europe and Global Accounts. In 2007 Naumann joined the GLT as an EVP Europe North and West. In 2015 he became Executive VP Region Europe & Mediterranean & Rollfed and has since 2019 been the EVP for Europe North and CIS. Naumann holds a degree as Wirtschaftsassistent Industrie, comparable to a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Current directorships and senior management positions: FKN e.V. (board member delegated by Elopak GmbH).

Lionel Ettedgui is the Group’s Executive Vice President for region Americas. Ettedgui has been appointed EVP Region America since September 2019. He has more 20 years’ experience in the operations of international large-scale corporations. Prior to joining the Group, Ettedgui was the President and CEO of Colabor Group. In addition, Ettedgui served more than 6 years as President and Chief operating officer of Saputo Bakery division until it was sold to Grupo Bimbo in 2015. In 2005, he founded Kooll Desserts, a state-of-the-art dairy plant with products listed at all retailers in Canada, the Company was sold to Liberté (Yoplait Group) in 2008. In addition, Ettedgui has held various executive positions in Europe and Africa within trade, operations management and business development. Ettedgui has also served on the board of directors of several companies including 7 years at Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital Foundation and 7 years at CTAQ (Quebec Food processing council). Ettedgui holds a degree in Business from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion. Current directorships and senior management positions: Elopak Canada (board member), Elopak Inc. (board member), Envases (board member) and IY (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Mito Sushi (member of advisory board), 123KLAN (member of advisory board), Fondation Hopital Sacre Coeur (board member) and Groupe Colabor (president and CEO).

Finn M. Tørjesen is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Region Europe South and MENA. Tørjesen has held the position as EVP since May 2019 and has been with the Group since 2000. Tørjesen has been an international marketing and sales executive for more than 25 years. Tørjesen holds a Master of Business from the University of Strathclyde and a Bachelor W Honours from Oslo Business School. Current directorships and senior management positions: Elopak Spa Italy (chairman), Elopak Nampak JV (board member) and The Norwegian Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Madrid (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Elopak Obeikan JV (board member).