Q&A with Ilkka Lohi, ACON CEO

Let’s get to know you! 

Please Introduce Yourself 

Hello, I'm Ilkka Lohi, a 46-year-old family man who enjoys sports and music. 

What's Your Role at Acon? 

I'm the CEO of Acon, since December 1st, 2023. 

Could you share insights into your work at ACON? 

The work culture at Acon is impressive. People know each other and selflessly work towards common goals, regardless of their specific roles. When you combine this with outstanding and fun products that bring children, youth, and even parents together for play and physical activity, every morning becomes a delight to get to work.  

Inside the Mind of Acon's CEO 

Which areas or initiatives are you most excited to focus on as Acon's new CEO? 

In the various functions at Acon, there are incredible people working and it's a pleasure to witness their expertise. As the CEO, my focus is on developing the leadership processes of the entire company to support the daily efforts of growing our current business and achieving new strategic goals. 

Where do you draw inspiration for your leadership style? 

I have worked in a variety of international organizations, large and small, and have seen many different styles of leadership. I believe that people want to succeed in their work, and I want to do my part to help them. I try to be open and share information in as a clear a way as possible so that everyone has the same understanding of the current state of the company, its objectives and the means and tasks to achieve them. I am confident people will do a good job if they know what is expected of them. With openness and cooperation, even difficult issues can be sorted out. At Acon, the barriers between departments and functions have always been low and I want to keep them that way. 

What do you find most challenging and rewarding about working as CEO? 

The CEO is ultimately responsible for the whole company. Situations often arise where you have to take a stand or make a decision on an issue that is not your core competence and you do not have time to get to the bottom of it. On the other hand, it is rewarding to be involved in learning and at the same time influencing issues that are important to the company. It's also rewarding to see people happy at work and especially the moments when together we find solutions that contribute to Acon's business. 

 
What are your top three priorities for 2024? 

• Ensuring Acon's profitable growth. 
• Developing the company's personnel and internal processes. 
• Implementing strategic decisions. 

Acon As an Employer 

Describe Acon's culture in three words. 

Inspiring, warm, and humane family business.

In 2023 Acon was accredited with the Great Place to Work Certificate. Tell us a little bit about it.  

It’s all thanks to our amazing team. The Great Place to Work Certification recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience, and we are proud to say 100% of our employees feel proud to tell others they work for Acon, they experience a culture where caring for each other is a priority and trust management's honesty and ethicality in its business practices. 

What makes Acon such a great place to work? 

Every day, coming to work at Acon is a pleasure and it's something I'm happy to share with others. The informal atmosphere, great colleagues, fantastic and valued products, and a promising future are things that inspire me every day. Our whole team is committed to keeping up the joy and fun in our everyday work and with people who enjoy what they are doing, we can make the best products to bring that same happiness to our customers as well.

Can you provide insights into your collaboration with Acon staff? 

It's nice that we are all familiar with each other. We stop to chat and appreciate each other and each other's expertise in our respective roles. The cooperation has been immediate and easy, and I hope it will continue as so. 

In your opinion, what sets Acon as the best in the business? 

Acon trampolines are rightly renowned for safety, durability, and excellent bounce. The recently launched new flagship trampoline, the Acon X 17 ft, pays special attention to the customer's experience with industry-first innovations in both performance and safety.  As a company, Acon's international and professional customer service is a source of great satisfaction.

Family man, sport enthusiast and a musician  

As a child, what was your dream career? 

I don't recall having a specific dream career as a child. I guess I concentrated more on playing various ball games and forgot to dream about jobs. 

Share your top three tips for relaxing after a busy day. 

Any kind of exercise is relaxing and team sports in particular force you to focus on just doing and forget about work. It's the same with choral singing. A peaceful sauna at the end of a long day is also part of my routine several times a week. 

Outside of ACON, where might we find you when you're not at work? 

If possible, I spend weekends at our cottage, engaging in activities like skiing, mountain biking, and enjoying quality time with my family. Occasionally, you also might spot me standing on a choir stage in the bass section. 

Share something surprising about yourself that your co-workers may not know? 

I feel like I've already shared everything about my life when chatting to my co-workers. Perhaps that's why it comes as a surprise that in my youth I was always the quietest observer in the group. 

The Acon Family is Always Growing 

We will continue to bring you behind-the-scenes discussions with our teams to include you in the Acon Community. 

Want to meet more of the team? Check out Q&A with Oskar Nyman, E-Commerce Manager at Acon or Q&A with Markus - 29 questions about trampolines.

Take a closer look at the next evolution of trampolines with the Acon X 17ft.