Karl Eichinger has been appointed new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Sapa as of December 1, 2013. In this position, he will report to Sapa’s President & CEO Svein Tore Holsether and be a part of the corporate management team.<br /><br />Eichinger comes from the position as Vice President Finance for Sapa’s Extrusion Europe business area.<br /><br />He replaces Arnstein Sletmoe, who has decided to leave Sapa after a successful implementation and start for the joint venture to focus on other priorities. Sletmoe has been part of the joint venture creation process between Orkla and Hydro since the negotiations started, and has played a key role in the integration process, securing the foundation for a successful set-up of the new company.<br /><br />“I feel privileged having been part of this merger from the start,” says Sletmoe. “With the first phase of the integration process in place, I feel my job is done and I will now use the remaining part of my time in Sapa to accommodate a smooth transfer of my responsibilities to Karl.”<br /><br />Sletmoe will continue to support the CEO and CFO until the end of January 2014.<br /><br />Eichinger (pictured, right) has a degree in business administration from the University of Economics in Vienna and has had various management positions within the Hydro’s aluminium business since 1996. Prior to the merger, he was managing director of Hydro Aluminum Extrusion Germany. <br /><br />“Karl Eichinger will bring valuable experience both from operations and the financial area into this position,” says Holsether. “I would like to thank Arnstein Sletmoe for his valuable efforts in the integration process and for setting up the finance function for the new company. I wish him luck with his new career outside Sapa.”