The Board of Directors of Rapala VMC Corporation ('the Group') has made following appointments and changes in the Group's Executive Committee with immediate effect.

Jussi Ristimäki has been appointed as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. In addition to his current role as Chief Financial Officer Ristimäki will have the overall responsibility of Group's supply chain and working capital management and distribution in Nordic countries, South Africa and Eastern Europe, excluding Russia.

Aku Valta has been appointed as a new member to Executive Committee to be in charge of Group's Lures Sales, Marketing, Brands and Web-strategy in Rest of the World Markets, excluding North America.

Cyrille Viellard has been appointed as a new member of Executive Committee to be in charge of Group's distribution in Central Europe (Germany, Italy, Benelux) and UK, co-ordination of Group's partnership with Shimano in Europe and global supply chain management. In latter role Cyrille Viellard will report to Jussi Ristimäki.

There are also some changes in responsibility areas of other Executive Committee members. Accordingly other members of the Executive Committee and their responsibilities are as follows:

Jorma Kasslin, President and Chief Executive Officer
Olli Aho, Company Counsel and Investor Relations
Lars Ollberg, Head of Accessory and Outdoor Business and Distribution in Asia
Juhani Pehkonen, Head of Lure Manufacturing and Innovation
Stanislas de Castelnau, Head of Hook and Carp Business, Group Manufacturing Excellence and Distribution in France and Switzerland.
Tom Mackin, Head of Distribution and Brands in North America
Victor Skvortsov, Head of Distribution in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

Executive Committee members report to Chief Executive Officer Jorma Kasslin.

Helsinki, September 24, 2015

RAPALA VMC CORPORATION
Jorma Kasslin
Chief Executive Officer

For further information:
Jorma Kasslin, President and CEO, tel. +358 9 7562 540
Jussi Ristimäki, Deputy CEO and CFO, tel. +358 9 7562 540
Olli Aho, Company Counsel and Investor Relations, tel. +358 9 7562 540

Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki and main media

Rapala VMC Corporation ('the Group') is a leading fishing tackle company and the global market leader in fishing lures, treble hooks and fishing related knives and tools. The Group also has a strong global position in other fishing categories and it is one of the leading distributors of outdoor, hunting and winter sport products in the Nordic countries. The Group has the largest distribution network in the industry. The main manufacturing facilities are located in Finland, France, Estonia, Russia, China, Indonesia and the UK. The Group brand portfolio includes the leading brand in the industry, Rapala, and other global brands like VMC, Sufix, Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr Jensen, Williamson, Dynamite Baits, Mora Ice, StrikeMaster, Marttiini and Peltonen. The Group, with net sales of EUR 273 million in 2014, employs some 2 800 people in 39 countries. Rapala VMC Corporation's share is listed and traded on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange since 1998.



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Source: Rapala VMC Oyj via Globenewswire
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