Roger Talermo, who had a significant career as a business leader, board professional and sports influencer, was 68 years old when he died.
Roger Talermon life was marked by internationality. In addition to Finland, he worked in important management positions in Austria, France, Sweden and the United States, among others.
Talermo’s career in the sports equipment industry began when he was offered Salomon’s Finnish representation in 1981, which he bravely accepted. From 1988, he first worked as the commercial director of Salomon in France, as the CEO of Taylor Made Golf Company in the USA, as the CEO of Salomon Northern Europe in Sweden, and from 1995 to 1996 as the CEO of Atomic in Austria.
Talermo worked as CEO of Amer Sports Oyj between 1996 and 2009. He was building the company into one of the world’s most significant international sports equipment groups.
Studying at Svenska Handelshögskolan (Hanken) in Helsinki provided a good foundation for Roger Talermo’s career. He had a diploma in economics and a master’s degree in economics. In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Jyväskylä. Talermo, who attended the Naval Academy, was a first lieutenant in military rank.
Roger Talermo was a sports person. Enthusiasm for sports started already in my childhood homes in Maunula and Espoo’s Haukilahti. His school years at the Swedish Normal High School were particularly important, where the teachers encouraged him to try a variety of different sports. During his life, Talermo had time to enjoy and compete in swimming, sailing, surfing, tennis, golf, but especially on snow. Alpine skiing was his passion throughout his life.
A great interest in alpine skiing resulted in 2006 together Markku Rimpiläinen together with the book Alppihihitäjät, which beautifully describes the story of Finnish alpine skiing.
During his sports career, Roger Talermo worked as both a swimming and alpine skiing coach. He brought freestyle skiing to Finland, and was the founder and first chairman of the Finnish Freestyle Skiing Association from 1975 to 1979. In the years 1978–1980, he was the vice-chairman of the freestyle committee of the International Ski Federation (FIS). In the Finnish Skiing Association, he served for a long time as the chairman of the alpine sports council.
As chairman of the Olympic Committee
Talermo served as chairman of the Finnish Olympic Committee from 2004 to 2012. His tenure coincided with the organization’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2007, the Youth Summer Olympic Festival (EYOF) organized in Tampere in 2009, and the start of the work of the Elite Sports Change Group in 2010.
As a board professional, Talermo managed to work in dozens of companies such as Atomic, Footbalance, Nautor, Sonera, Sultrade, Suunto and Wilson Sportin Goods. In addition, he was, among other things, a member of the board of the Suomen Liikesivistysrahasto from 2003.
From 2010 Talermo, who is exceptionally well networked internationally, served on the board of the World Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) as the European representative together with the basketball legend by Vlade Divac with. Talermo always had a direct conversation with the world’s leading sports influencers.
Roger Talermo in the life of family, spouse Berry and a daughter Emmaalong with important things were snow, the sea and the Alps. He had a great time in Austria and was the country’s honorary consul general in Finland from 1988.
Talermo’s love for sports remained until the end. He mentioned several times that many positions of trust and tasks in sports were very close to him. Talermo felt that he could give back to the sport at least something of what he had received from it.
Roger Talermo was not afraid to take on challenges and was an excellent diplomat. Throughout his life, he maintained his curiosity and did not shy away from internationalism. It was also the message he wanted to convey to his followers and future generations.