Espoo, Finland -
January 4, 2000
SSH Ltd. Names Markku Kangas President and CEO
SSH announced today the appointment of Markku Kangas as President and CEO of SSH Communications Security Ltd. (SSH Ltd.). Kangas, 52 years old, has about 30 years of experience in software house, system integration and automation business and in globalizing operations.
"The extensive experience of Markku Kangas in successfully leading a multinational company and various small-sized and start-up IT companies is very crucial in our strategy for expanding our international operations. I am very proud to announce Markku as the new leader of our company." said Tatu Ylönen, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of SSH Ltd. Tatu Ylönen, who earlier held the CEO's position, will now concentrate in leading the company's new technology and product development.
"Data security technology is just now entering a period of rapid expansion," said Markku Kangas. "The value proposition of Internet and the demands of e-commerce are driving corporations to move from the closed private networks towards open systems utilizing the Web and so called Virtual Private Networks (VPN). This raises the urgent need for in-depth security systems. SSH is a leader in this particular business niche and has excellent potential to develop new world-class solutions and toolkits.
The market for security solutions is fast moving, dynamic and sensitive to certain factors, changes in the telecommunications infrastructure for example, upon which the Internet is dependent. I believe in the resources of SSH and that any challenges we would confront can be mastered with smart work, skillfully crafted product development and diligent execution. I will dedicate my time and experience to lead SSH toward its growth and prosperity." Kangas continued.
Before joining SSH Markku Kangas was President and CEO of a multinational process automation company, Valmet Automation Inc. with revenues of $ 300 million. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Metso (ex-Valmet) Corporation. There, he led a successful reorganization of the company returning it back to profit and growth. At Valmet Corporation, Mr. Kangas acted also as Member of the Executive Team, Member of the Board, Senior Vice President for Corporate Development, and Vice President, for New Technologies with corporate-wide IT-responsibility.
Earlier, Markku Kangas was Chief executive at Valmet Data Systems, a company specialized on manufacturing resource planning (MRP), order processing and CAD/CAM. Valmet Data Systems grew rapidly and profitably with operations in Finland, Sweden, U.S. and Germany. Now it is part of TietoEnator, one of Europe's leading IT service providers.
Mr. Kangas has lead other small and start-up companies like Procons Ltd., a start-up system integrator company and Typlan Ltd., a university spin-off company founded by a group of computer scientists. As Technical Director at DAVA Ltd. he was responsible for software department.
Markku Kangas holds an MBA from the International Management Institute in Geneva (now IMD, Lausanne) and a MSc. from the Helsinki University of Technology in Industrial Engineering.
"The extensive experience of Markku Kangas in successfully leading a multinational company and various small-sized and start-up IT companies is very crucial in our strategy for expanding our international operations. I am very proud to announce Markku as the new leader of our company." said Tatu Ylönen, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of SSH Ltd. Tatu Ylönen, who earlier held the CEO's position, will now concentrate in leading the company's new technology and product development.
"Data security technology is just now entering a period of rapid expansion," said Markku Kangas. "The value proposition of Internet and the demands of e-commerce are driving corporations to move from the closed private networks towards open systems utilizing the Web and so called Virtual Private Networks (VPN). This raises the urgent need for in-depth security systems. SSH is a leader in this particular business niche and has excellent potential to develop new world-class solutions and toolkits.
The market for security solutions is fast moving, dynamic and sensitive to certain factors, changes in the telecommunications infrastructure for example, upon which the Internet is dependent. I believe in the resources of SSH and that any challenges we would confront can be mastered with smart work, skillfully crafted product development and diligent execution. I will dedicate my time and experience to lead SSH toward its growth and prosperity." Kangas continued.
Before joining SSH Markku Kangas was President and CEO of a multinational process automation company, Valmet Automation Inc. with revenues of $ 300 million. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Metso (ex-Valmet) Corporation. There, he led a successful reorganization of the company returning it back to profit and growth. At Valmet Corporation, Mr. Kangas acted also as Member of the Executive Team, Member of the Board, Senior Vice President for Corporate Development, and Vice President, for New Technologies with corporate-wide IT-responsibility.
Earlier, Markku Kangas was Chief executive at Valmet Data Systems, a company specialized on manufacturing resource planning (MRP), order processing and CAD/CAM. Valmet Data Systems grew rapidly and profitably with operations in Finland, Sweden, U.S. and Germany. Now it is part of TietoEnator, one of Europe's leading IT service providers.
Mr. Kangas has lead other small and start-up companies like Procons Ltd., a start-up system integrator company and Typlan Ltd., a university spin-off company founded by a group of computer scientists. As Technical Director at DAVA Ltd. he was responsible for software department.
Markku Kangas holds an MBA from the International Management Institute in Geneva (now IMD, Lausanne) and a MSc. from the Helsinki University of Technology in Industrial Engineering.
SSH Corp. Contact
George Adams
SSH Communications Security Corp.
Tel: +1 781 247 2100
E-mail: 
Americas Contact
Byron Rashed
SSH Communications Security, Inc.
Tel: +1 650 251 2721
E-mail: 
Europe Contact
Bo Sorensen
SSH Communications Security Corp.
Tel: +358 20 500 7404
E-mail: 
Investor Relations
Mika Peuranen
SSH Communications Security Corp.
Tel: +358 20 500 7419
E-mail: 
U.S. Agency Contact
Cheryl Seaberg
Walt & Company
Tel: +1 408 496 0900 x 2981
E-mail: 
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