Mr Larvio’s started his international timber trade career in Canada in 1978 after joining Eurocan, based firstly at Kitimat and then in Vancouver. His next assignment was in Honduras from 1980 until 1983. After a few years back in Finland, Mr Larvio joined Enso Gutzeit Timber in the UK in September 1987 and in January 1993 was appointed managing director of Enso Timber UK Ltd.
In subsequent years, he oversaw challenges to incorporate sales in the UK not only from the original Enso sawmills but also from several sawmill acquisitions in Finland, central European mills after the joint venture and eventual full acquisition of Schweighofer, and Stora sawmills following the merger of Stora and Enso in 1998. The company grew further with the acquisition of the Sylvester A/S sawmills in the Baltics. Under Mr Larvio’s leadership, sales and customer service functions were consolidated under Stora Enso Timber UK Ltd.
Mr Larvio was known in the UK timber industry as a tough but fair negotiator. He gave customers honest appraisals of market conditions based on his wide network and knowledge of global market trends. To his subordinates, he was a demanding but at the same time a kind and sympathetic leader.
He moved back to Finland in 2001 and was appointed managing director of Puumerkki Oy the following year.
Since their retirement from corporate life, Mr Larvio and his wife Marja devoted their time to restore, renovate and modernise Marja’s family home in South Karelia, a heritage site which has belonged to Marja’s family since 1572.
Mr Larvio will be deeply missed by former colleagues and friends. His funeral and remembrance service will be held in Joutseno, Finland, on March 2.
