HTGP Group Appoints Joni Lappalainen as CEO – Company Continues Path Toward Stock Market Listing

Joni Lappalainen, CEO of HTGP Group

The Board of Directors of HTGP Group has appointed Joni Lappalainen as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. He will assume the role on February 1, 2026. The appointment supports HTGP Group’s current strategic phase, in which the company is being systematically developed toward a future stock market listing.

Joni Lappalainen brings strong experience in leading and developing service businesses and building profitable growth. He has worked extensively with business models, operational efficiency, and customer-oriented service offerings in companies undergoing clear growth phases.

“I have held leadership responsibility in high-quality growth companies and have also seen the day-to-day realities of large listed companies. I believe my experience in sales, customer value creation, and leadership aligns well with HTGP’s growth philosophy. In leadership, care and commitment are essential – not just seeing what needs to be done, but taking action,” Lappalainen says.

Lappalainen notes that his background in competitive sports during his youth taught him to value clear and ambitious goals. As a leader, he emphasizes clear direction, collaboration, and individual responsibility.

“A key leadership skill is getting people committed to working toward a shared goal. Good things happen when everyday work is consistently aligned with agreed objectives,” he says.

Most recently, Lappalainen has been involved in developing platform-based business models, where traditional service operations are transformed into scalable, efficient, and internationally expandable solutions through technology. This experience supports HTGP Group’s objective of developing its service business in a controlled manner toward a more scalable and structurally robust model.

“I appreciate HTGP’s strong commitment to helping both our team and our clients succeed. One of my first priorities as CEO will be to create a clear roadmap that enables structured, step-by-step progress. One major goal is the stock market listing, and after that, the ambition is to accelerate growth even further,” Lappalainen says.

Strong Development at HTGP Group

In 2025, HTGP Group achieved its revenue target of EUR 6 million. For 2026, the company is targeting revenue of approximately EUR 10 million. The strategic cooperation with Springvest Oyj will be an important contributor to HTGP’s future growth.

Ville Heikkinen, who has served as Interim CEO, will continue as a member of the Board, actively supporting the company’s growth initiatives in close cooperation with Chairman of the Board Petri Toljamo. Continued support and commitment from Juha Hulkko and Zach Shelby further strengthen HTGP Group’s ability to execute its growth strategy and advance to the next stage of development.

“Joni Lappalainen’s experience in leading service businesses, combined with his recent work in platform-based solutions, supports the company’s current phase exceptionally well,” the Board of HTGP Group states.

HTGP Group will continue to execute its growth strategy by strengthening its business operations, leadership, and governance structures, with the goal of building a solid foundation for a future stock market listing.

Contact

Joni Lappalainen
CEO, HTGP Group Oy
joni.lappalainen@htgp.fi, +358 40 551 5834

Ville Heikkinen
Board Member, HTGP Group Oy
ville.heikkinen@htgp.fi, +358 40 750 7517