David Nuutinen, president and CEO of European confectionery company Cloetta, is to step down due to private reasons.

Nuutinen has been with the company for 13 years, serving as CEO for the last year. With effect from 1 September, CFO Danko Maras will assume the position as interim president and CEO. A search for a permanent CEO is underway.

Commenting on Maras’s temporary appointment, chair of the board Lilian Fossum Biner said, “He is very experienced and has been with the company for many years and will together with the group management team make sure that we continue to drive profitable growth. Strategy and financial targets therefore remain intact.”

Nuutinen will be available to support the board and the management team during his notice term of six months.