Antti Kiikka, founder of Premix Group, has had an entrepreneurial career spanning more than half a century, which has included both conquering the global market for electrically conductive plastics and a successful generational transition. This year, his long career was honored with a Gold Medal of Merit awarded by the Finland Chamber of Commerce.
Gaining the Courage to Grow and Go Global
Kiikka worked as an entrepreneur under his father’s guidance at the family-owned company Teknos even before founding Premix. However, he did not stay on to carry on his father’s work; instead, he resigned, bought Teknos plastics business, and founded Premix in 1980.
“Even though I had been an entrepreneur at Teknos for ten years, it wasn’t until Premix that I truly felt like an entrepreneur,” Kiikka says.
Kiikka describes Premix’s early years as a trial-and-error process. However, the company invested heavily in product development and found its focus with the development of electrically conductive plastic. That also marked the beginning of its growth and international expansion. Electrically conductive plastic remains one of Premix’s main products, and the company is the global market leader in this field.
“It says a lot about my father’s attitude and courage that he set his sights on international markets right from the start. That wasn’t very common in Finland back then,” says Hanna Ristola.
A Successful Generational Transition
Kiikka cites the success brought about by electrically conductive plastic and the successful transfer of the company to the next generation as the most important milestones in his long entrepreneurial career.
In the late 1990s, Kiikka stepped down from the company’s operational management and became chairman of the board. His children were not pressured to take over the company; instead, Premix hired an outside CEO.
“We actually had three outside CEOs at one point. We’d gone through a few difficult years, and I thought I’d have to sell the company. There was even one offer on the table when Hanna announced she was taking the reins,” Kiikka explains.
“I felt that my father’s life’s work shouldn’t be sold off cheaply during a difficult time. I had to at least try,” Ristola says.
It paid off, as her father’s support and the advice, “Make your own mistakes,” have carried the family business forward under Ristola’s leadership as well.
“That advice was a great show of trust. The fact that my father has remained with the company and on the board for so long has also been important for continuity,” says Ristola.
A Strong Corporate Culture Leads to Long Careers
At Premix, long careers aren’t limited to the company’s founder. These are also recognized with awards. The company presents gold medals of merit, awarded by the Central Chamber of Commerce, for careers spanning more than 30 and 40 years. Previous decades of service are also recognized through additional time off and bonuses, among other things.
“I see that my father’s visionary spirit and his desire to grow and innovate are still very much alive at Premix. We have a strong corporate culture and values that date back to the company’s early days. This is reflected in the long careers our employees have with us,” Ristola says.
The Medal of Merit is an important token of appreciation
Kiikka’s courage and willingness to embrace change are also evident in his ability to step aside and pass the torch: first by becoming chairman of the board, then an ordinary board member, and now, soon, stepping into the background.
“I became a regular board member when I turned 70. Now I’m turning 80, and I feel it’s time to step down from the board,” Kiikka says.
Of course, Kiikka isn’t leaving Premix entirely. He will continue to receive board meeting invitations and materials, and will certainly comment on them when necessary. Above all, the family business he founded—along with its culture and values—will live on. He already has a use in mind for his gold service medal.
“The medal is an important token of appreciation for me, and I wear it with pride. Next spring, one of our employees will be honored for 40 years of service, and I’ll definitely have mine pinned to my lapel at that time,” Kiikka says.
