Dr Järvinen was previously managing director and CEO of Finnish Wood Research Ltd and for the past three years he has been involved with the CEI-Bois technical and innovation working groups.
He said now was the right time to raise the profile of the sawmilling and woodworking industry.
"All over Europe the challenges are similar: availability of reasonably priced raw material, increasing competition from other parts of the world and substitute materials, and challenges of European-wide standardisation. Yet wood is the only truly renewable raw material for various end uses," said Dr Järvinen.
"When managed sustainably, wood offers a real solution for global warming and greenhouse gas pollution. However, conveying these positive messages to the European policy makers and markets requires more effort than ever."
Dr Järvinen succeeds Filip De Jaeger who announced his resignation last year.
