Current President and Chief Executive Officer Lars Ollberg will continue in his position until March 6th and will then retire after serving the company for over 45 years in various roles.

“Lars Ollberg has been a significant contributor to the development of Rapala VMC and we would like to thank him for his long-term commitment and dedication to the Group. Going forward – speaking for the whole Board of Directors – we would like to express our support for Cyrille Viellard and the Group’s Executive Committee in the execution of the strategy,” said Chairman of the Board of Directors Emmanuel Viellard.

Ollberg said: “I am pleased with the appointment of Cyrille Viellard. I believe he brings valuable expertise and vision that will drive the company forward. As a new CEO he has a strong background, extensive industry experience and a deep understanding of Rapala VMC‘s business. When I rejoined Rapala VMC in May 2023 my role was to stabilise the group’s situation and I am proud that I have been able to act as a leader during this transition period.

“I would like to thank all employees, customers and stakeholders for their support and cooperation during this transition. Over the past eight years, Rapala has had five CEOs, and I believe the appointment of Cyrille Viellard as CEO will bring the company the continuity it needs along with new growth opportunities.”

“I deeply thank Lars Ollberg for his energy, unequalled industry knowledge and stewardship that brought trust and unity in our organisation and among our stakeholders. With our strong team, I feel greatly honoured to continue implementing our defined Rapala VMC roadmap to further strengthen our operational excellence and exciting brands,” said Cyrille Viellard.

Cyrille Viellard has worked at Rapala VMC Corporation since 2014. Prior to joining the the group he worked for Selectarc Welding & Brazing Group and Bosch Group. He has acted as the Deputy CEO of Rapala VMC Corporation since 2023 while at the same time managing the Group’s EMEA and Latin America business regions. Before that he worked with the Group’s European distribution management and business development and later managed VMC Pêche, the group’s hook business from 2020. He has been a member of the Rapala VMC Group’s executive committee since 2015.