This is Kyrö
This is Kyrö
The multi-talented people behind your favourite spirits
Since 2012, Kyrö has grown from five naked men into an extended, global team (some of whom even wear clothes). Get to know the Kyrö Distillery Company's team in its full glory.
Founders
Jouni Ritola
Our CEO still remembers how to small talk from the year he spent in Chicago, but this hasn't been a particularly useful skill in Finland. Jouni's areas are Travel Retail as well as Northern America.
Mikko Koskinen
Mikko, whom you already know from our iconic ads, wears two hats: he oversees experiences in Finland and leads our Visitor Center. In his spare time, Mikko enjoys diving, fighting climate change, and the outdoors.
Kalle Valkonen
Before becoming the Master Distiller for a Finnish whisky distillery, this (crazy) scientist was developing biofuels and brewing beer. To be honest, we're not fully sure he ever stopped.
Miko Heinilä
Miko is a walking history book. He looks after sales in Finland, Asia, and Africa, as well as travels, organizes, and fixes things, and apparently never sleeps.
Miika Lipiäinen
Miika came back to oversee the Asian market, whilst still working in academia. He recently wrote his PhD on – you guessed it – whisky. Because what else.
Distillery Operations
Mari Saarenpää
Multi-talented Mari has been part of Kyrö's story for over 10 years. She's a friend of smoky whisky and animals. The distillery's unofficial mother figure looks after not only her team but also the whiskies with the warmth and love they deserve.
Timo Mäkelä
A daytime distiller, this bassist is a surprisingly loquacious introvert who can tell you a story or two about the history of the Isokyrö Church (built in the 14th century so there's a lot to talk about).
Sanni Aittanen
If this former fighter plane engineer and military professional had a choice, she would live in the 50s and never give up her flower dress and puffy hair. Sanni's dreams include a trip to Cuba and a retirement in Italy – both accompanied by wine, of course.
ásgeir bergmann pétrusson
Geiri names Madrid as his favourite city for its good weather, food and wine, yet he still moved to Isokyrö. Officially developing new drinks and distillates, unofficially responsible for many smiles.
Outi Heinäluoma
The bottling plant and logistics manager pulls just the right strings to ensure that all ordered products are delivered to customers on time and team members are as satisfied as possible. The Fernet-Branca coins may or may not have something to do with this. Loves Turku (a truly controversial opinion).
kaisa havunen
Everyday life is more than a Hanami picnic in Tokyo, but our bottler Kaisa can say she has experienced that. Drinks her whisky neat. Loves the Foo Fighters and going to gigs.
ann-marie kallio
Gardening enthusiast who keeps packing materials strictly in order, and spices Isokyrö up with her Swedish flavour.
Alina Antonova
This packaging & logistics helper creates in her spare time the most stunning nails you can get in Isokyrö, if not in the entire Southern Ostrobothnia.
Brand & Marketing
Matti Kovanen
Matti masters many skills. He can be spotted playing the piano, photographing, signing off on new packaging designs. Matti is Kyrö's one-man brand police and as we speak, he leads the marketing team, covering for Tiina.
Oliver Saarinen
Oliver runs Kyrö's digital channels and ensures that you have heard of us. He loves his camera, excel, and InDesign as much as cultural discussions over a glass.
Jenna Toivonen
Jenna has been the marketing lead for the Visitor Centre for many years. This absolute ray of sunshine was recently welcomed back from her baby-bubble.
Mikko Koskinen
Mikko, whom you already know from our iconic ads, wears two hats: he oversees experiences in Finland and is the CEO of our Visitor Center. In his spare time, Mikko enjoys diving, fighting climate change, and the outdoors.
Tiina Robin (on parental leave)
Tiina takes care of marketing Kyrö in Finland and abroad. When she joined Kyrö's ryeful journey, she had just returned to Finland after several years of adventuring in the UK. Tiina is currently on maternity leave with Matti acting as her replacement.
Isokyrö Visitor Centre
Susanne Koivisto
Susanne makes sure that everything works as it should and that there are enough people around to look after our guests. She is a dedicated cat lover, loves Asian food and dreams of a long trip to Korea.
Tony "Tonto" Sivula
Our former Visitor Center CEO just couldn't leave us and is still managing Kyrö's events. Though his days are mostly packed with building his own business on his ranch. When doing neither, he's baking sour dough bread passionately
Lyydianna Hangassalo
When she's not busy hosting distillery tours, she enjoys Hogwarts spiced with magical tattoo ideas and ice cream bowls.
Julia Laiho
At the visitor centre's bar, you'll find a humming Julia, who is studying to become a cultural producer. She loves all things green. In her spare time, she dreams of a cabin in the woods without neighbours.
Iida Paasonen
This powerhouse of a woman does burlesque, is interested in shamanism and breathes music. Iida hikes both in nature and at the distillery while giving tours and sharing Kyrö stories with our visitors. This Wonder of the East lives in Lapland during the winter moths.
Sales
Miko Heinilä
Miko is a walking history book. He looks after sales in Finland, Asia, and Africa, as well as travels, organizes, and fixes things, and apparently never sleeps.
Jouni Ritola
Our CEO still remembers how to small talk from the year he spent in Chicago, but this hasn't been a particularly useful skill in Finland. Jouni's areas are Travel Retail as well as Northern America.
Samuli Franke
Samuli is a barrel-chaser and fatbike adventurer who enjoys German rock tunes and spreading the good news of pickleball. He's also a father of five, trying to keep up with his pack of dogs and one overly-enthusiastic cat. Contact Samuli for all your barrel selling and loaning needs.
barrelsales@kyrodistillery.com
+358 50 325 2580
Miika Lipiäinen
Miika came back to oversee the Asian market, whilst still working in academia. He recently wrote his PhD on – you guessed it – whisky. Because what else.
Mark Wood
Our Aussie reinforcement, Mark, has worked in the drinks industry for
over half of his life and the last ten years across Asia and Global
travel retail. He’s passionate for food and drinks, collecting, running
and of course travel.
Micha Fritzen
Our Brand Ambassador Micha once dropped out of acting school and then directing school, only to completely immerse himself in the German bar scene for the following years. In his free time, he devotes himself to his puppy Gizmo and enjoys the small adventures of everyday life.
HR & Finance
Jenni Soini
The (sometimes) happy renovator of a century-old house knows everything about everything. Jenni has been part of the Kyrö story almost from the very beginning, but today she's responsible for the HR and finance side of things.
olga kharchenko
This multi-talent handles financial management and logistics with incredible efficiency. She wishes she had a few more hours in the day, as there are still 1001 things Olga would like to learn or do. Free time is spent with the kids, knitting or pole dancing. The dream is to have a house with a big yard and a garden.