Executive Board

PHILIPPE DELORME

President and CEO
b. 1971, M.Sc. (Manufacturing), MBA (International Business)

President and CEO of KONE since 2024.

Prior to joining KONE, he worked at Schneider Electric in various roles, most recently as Executive Vice President, Europe Operations. Prior to that he held key positions in the areas of strategy, technology, operations, and sales in Europe, the US and Asia. He was a member of the Schneider Electric Executive Committee from 2009 to 2023.

NICOLAS ALCHAL

Europe (interim until the end of 2024)
b. 1981, M.Sc. (Electrical Engineering), MBA (Business Administration)

Member of the Executive Board since March 2024. Employed by KONE since 2011.

Previously served at KONE as Managing Director for Middle East, Türkiye and Africa 2022–2024, as New Equipment Business Director and Delivery Operations Director for South Europe, Middle East and Africa 2019– 2021, and as Managing Director for UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain 2011–2018.

Prior to joining KONE, he worked in various leadership roles at ThyssenKrupp Elevator in the United Arab Emirates 2007-2011.

JOE BAO

Greater China
b. 1982, B.A. (Management Information Systems)

Member of the Executive Board and employed by KONE as of October 2022.

Previously served as President of Microsoft China 2021–2022, as well as in various leadership roles in the areas of sales, marketing, and strategy at both Microsoft Corporate headquarters and the Greater China Region 2004–2021.

Current key position of trust: member of the Board of Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

AXEL BERKLING

Commercial & Operations
b. 1967, M.Sc. (Econ)

Member of the Executive Board since 2016. Employed by KONE since 1998.

Previously served at KONE as Executive Vice President, Central and North Europe 2021–2023, as Executive Vice President, Asia-Pacific 2016–2021, as Managing Director, KONE Germany 2012–2016, and in various regional commercial roles (including Service Director in Germany) 2007–2012. Prior to joining KONE, he worked at Nass Magnet GmbH as Managing Director 1996–1998 and at Arthur Andersen in different roles 1992–1995.

KAIJA BRIDGER

People & Communications
b. 1972, M.Sc. (Psychology)

Member of the Executive Board since 2024. Employed by KONE since 2015.

Previously served at KONE as Vice President, People & Communications for KONE Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa 2022-2024 and 2015-2022 as Head of Talent Management and Culture. Prior to joining KONE, she worked in various Human Resources consulting positions at Psycon Oy and Cubiks Finland Oy 2000-2015.

JOHANNES FRÄNDE

General Counsel
b. 1979, LL.M., M.Sc. (Computer Science)

Member of the Executive Board since 2021. Secretary to the KONE Board of Directors since 2022. Employed by KONE since 2012.

Previously served as Head of Legal for KONE's Service Business and KONE's Technology and Innovation unit 2017–2021 and as Senior Legal Counsel 2012–2016. Prior to joining KONE, he worked as an attorney at Roschier Attorneys Ltd. 2005–2007 and 2009–2012 and at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 2008–2009.

SAMER HALABI

Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa
b. 1970, M.Sc. (Mechanical Engineering)

Member of the Executive Board since 2021. Employed by KONE since 2001.

Previously served at KONE as Regional Managing Director, KONE Middle East and Africa 2010–2021, as Managing Director, KONE Qatar 2007–2010, as Managing Director, KONE Distributor Business 2004–2007, and in various other leadership roles in the Middle East and Africa region 2001–2004.

ILKKA HARA

Chief Financial Officer
b. 1975, M. Sc. (Finance and Accounting)

Member of the Executive Board and employed by KONE since 2016.

Previously served at KONE as Interim leader for the South Europe and Mediterranean region between December 2022 and June 2023. Prior to joining KONE, he worked at Microsoft Phones as General Manager and Chief Financial Officer 2014–2016, at Nokia in various leadership roles 2004–2014, at ABN AMRO 2003–2004, and at Morgan Stanley 2001–2003.

Current key positions of trust: Member of the Board of Directors at Hartili Oy.

MIKKO KORTE

Supply Chain
b. 1968, M.Sc. (Eng)

Member of the Executive Board since 2016. Employed by KONE since 1995.

Previously served at KONE as Executive Vice President, Operations Development 2016–2023, as Head of New Equipment Business, KONE Americas 2013–2015, as Managing Director, KONE Finland and Baltics 2011–2013, as Service Director, KONE Central and North Europe 2007–2011, as Service Business Director, KONE Scandinavia 2004–2007, and as Service Operations Manager, KONE Finland 1999–2004.

TOMIO PIHKALA

Chief Technology Officer
b. 1975, M.Sc. (Mechanical Engineering)

Member of the Executive Board since 2013. Employed by KONE since 2001.

Previously served at KONE as Executive Vice President, New Equipment Business 2019–2023, as Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer 2015–2019, as Executive Vice President, Operations Development 2013–2015, as Vice President, Technology Finland 2011–2013, as Director, Service Equipment Business, KONE China 2009–2010, and as Director, Product Strategy and Marketing, KONE China 2007–2008.

Current key positions of trust: Member of the Board of Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation, and Member of the Board of Vexve Armatury Group.

KEN SCHMID

Americas
b. 1963, B.A. (History), MBA (Business Administration)

Member of the Executive Board since 2020. Employed by KONE since 1986 (Montgomery Elevator Company until 1994).

Previously served at KONE as Senior Vice President, Finance, KONE Americas 2005–2020, as Senior Vice President, Global Information Services 2003–2005, as Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, KONE Americas 1998–2003, as Vice President, Quality 1995–1998, and in various new equipment sales roles in multiple branch offices.

Current key positions of trust: Member of the Board of National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), and Member of the Board of Advisory Board to Invest in Finland, USA.

KAORI UEHIGASHI

Strategy & Transformation (interim until the end of 2024)

b. 1979, M.Sc. (Industrial Engineering)

Member of the Executive Board and employed by KONE as of January 2024.

Previously served as Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) since 2017 and has most recently acted as the Managing Partner for BCG in Finland 2021-2023.