Sampsa Auvinen Appointed Chairman of the Board to Drive Strategic Growth and Innovation

Brussels, June 16th, 2025 – Fordaq SA is pleased to announce the appointment of Sampsa Auvinen as Chairman of the Board, marking a significant step in its ongoing commitment to transforming the global wood industry.

Sampsa Auvinen brings over 30 years of executive and board experience in the international mechanical forest industry, having held senior leadership roles at companies such as Norvik Timber Industries and Pölkky Oy, and currently serving as Chair of the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois).

His deep expertise and visionary leadership will be instrumental in guiding the group’s ambitious growth agenda Fordaq SA's portfolio includes fordaq.com, the leading global B2B marketplace for wood products used worldwide by thousands of companies everyday, Tally Express the software platform to measure and manage bundles of lumber, Neural Grader, the company’s revolutionary AI solution to optimise the grading of lumber and its further processing into components.As Chairman, Mr. Auvinen will oversee the strategic direction of the group.

"I am very pleased to join this great team”, said Sampsa Auvinen, "Benoit & Bruno Nieuwenhuys are proven tech entrepreneurs. Over the last 25 years they made their mark in the wood industry with fordaq.com and tallyexpress but also played a major role in the music industry’s transition to online streaming with Adswizz. The work they have done over the last years with the Neural Grader is truly impressive. I look forward to help them in their vision of using technology to make the wood industry more efficient."

“We are delighted to welcome Sampsa Auvinen as Chairman of the Board,” said Benoit Nieuwenhuys, CEO. “His strategic vision and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our platforms and invest in next-generation solutions that address the evolving needs of the wood industry.”

This appointment reflects the group’s broader vision to lead the digital transformation of the wood sector, fostering sustainable growth and delivering value for all stakeholders.

For more information, please contact:

Sampsa Auvinen : sampsa.auvinen@fordaq.com
+371 28631100

Benoit Nieuwenhuys : benoit@fordaq.com
+352 621459616

About Fordaq SA

Fordaq SA is a global leader in digital solutions for the wood industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio that includes the Fordaq marketplace and AI-powered technologies such as Tally Express and the Neural Grader. Serving over 200,000 companies in more than 190 countries, the Group is dedicated to driving innovation, efficiency, and sustainability across the wood value chain.

About Sampsa Auvinen

Sampsa Auvinen is an experienced board professional with over 30 years of executive leadership in the forest industry. He serves on the boards of several prominent companies within the sector and has held senior positions at leading European wood enterprises. Renowned for his commitment to innovation and sustainability, Mr. Auvinen is a recognized advocate for the continued advancement of the woodworking industry. He is also Honorary President of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry, EOS.