5/5 stars from Antell for their match with Teresa Laimio!
Board leadership to take the company forward
Established in 1880, Antell lunch restaurants are known for offering delicious food and enjoyable food experiences across Finland. The family business employs around 300 employees and has a turnover of EUR 26 million (2022).
Antell’s CEO, Tomi Lantto, originally reached out to Ferovalo at the beginning of 2024. Two of their seasoned board members — who had graciously stayed longer in their roles to see the end of the COVID-19 crisis — planned to transition. Lantto began the search to fill the two seats with board members who could take the company forward.
Finding talent through Ferovalo
In the search for Antell’s next board members, Lantto sought assistance from Ferovalo and several other service providers.
Antell had utilized Ferovalo’s service for interim and board professionals in the past, and knew they could expect a transparent process, an affordable service fee, and highly experienced — as well as motivated — applicants.
Lantto says,
“From the perspective of the process: I recommend an open call to all companies! Of course, you can recruit people from your own circle of acquaintances, but you get a much wider sample when you put a lot of vacancies open.”
Ferovalo put the open call on Best Best Talent Platform in early February, and BBTP Members had approximately one month to apply. Teresa Laimio was among the batch of applicants who applied to the open assignment on BBTP. Her industry expertise and professional experience on multiple boards quickly made her the perfect fit for one of the seats.
Teresa Laimio — Food industry expert & experienced board professional
With over 20 years of experience in the food industry plus almost 10 years of board experience in the food and restaurant industry, Laimio beat out many other qualified candidates for one of Antell’s board seats. In April 2024, Laimio was officially appointed to Antell’s board, along with a board professional found through another service provider, Mitti Storckovius.
Over a year after being appointed to the board, Antell’s CEO is still pleased with the selection of Laimio. Lantto says,
“I am extremely impressed with Laimo’s contribution to the Antell board. This board has accomplished a lot together and I am pleased with the direction the company is heading.”
The great work of Antell’s board has not only been applauded internally but has also received public recognition. At the end of 2024, Antell was among three finalists for the Kultainen Nuija Award— an annual award given by Hallitus Partnerit for successful board work.
Building a board with the skills your company needs
When Tomi Lantto began searching for board members for Antell, he knew he wanted a balanced board and an equitable search. Antell’s case is an excellent example of reaching beyond your network to get the right competencies to your board.
Through Ferovalo’s board service, you get:
- Access to quality candidates who have the experience AND motivation for your role
- Viewing of candidates’ applications without cost or commitment
- Interviews with your top candidates for a one-time fee
- The ability to select one or more candidates for your role at a flat price
Could an outside perspective boost your board work?
Increasingly, companies are bringing in part-time experts to support the board’s work behind the scenes. These interim professionals act as an extension of the board, providing targeted expertise, analysis, and project leadership in areas where board members may lack time or specialized knowledge.
For example, a part-time expert could be utilized for:
- ESG and sustainability reporting
- Financial restructuring or fundraising preparation
- Market entry and international expansion
- Succession planning and leadership development
Is your company in need of a seasoned board professional or an interim expert?
Ferovalo's team is ready to discuss your needs and help you find the right fit.
