Changes in JKMM leadership – Architect SAFA Arvi Mäkitalo will be appointed as the new CEO
Samppa Lappalainen, who has served as CEO since 2018, will be leaving the organization. During the transition period, Arvi Mäkitalo (Architect SAFA), currently Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO, will be appointed as the new CEO of JKMM Architects. Mäkitalo is a shareholder in the company and has worked at JKMM since 2012. The responsibilities of the CEO will be transferred to Mäkitalo as of 1 March 2026. Lappalainen will remain in the company’s service until 14 April 2026.
“We would like to warmly thank Samppa for the years we have worked together. Over nearly eight years, he has built strong structures for us and steered the organization through turbulence in the operating environment. In the midst of change, it is natural to continue with a key figure who has grown within our organisation, ensuring the continuity of the office also in the future. We wish Arvi every success in his new role,” says founding partner and Chairman of the Board Juha Mäki-Jyllilä.
According to Mäki-Jyllilä, JKMM Architects’ goal is to remain an independent practice and to continue designing high-quality and demanding renovation, infill, and new-build projects.
“I have been considering my next career move for some time. The past years have been extremely rewarding and have included many different phases – from strong growth to the pandemic, and from the geopolitical situation to the subsequent slowdown in the construction sector. It has been an honour to be part of what many consider the best architectural practice in Finland and to work alongside such talented designers in an ambitious yet warm community. Now feels like a natural and timely moment to take the next step forward, and I am very pleased to leave the office in capable hands,” says Samppa Lappalainen.
“For me, it is important to ensure that the values that are essential to JKMM – sustainability, quality, and humanity – are reflected in concrete decisions and built solutions. I believe that this way of thinking lies at the heart of long-term success,” says Arvi Mäkitalo.
For additional information:
Arvi Mäkitalo, CEO as of 1 March 2026
+358 50 547 4249, arvi.makitalo@jkmm.fi
Samppa Lappalainen
+358 50 364 5787, samppa.lappalainen@jkmm.fi