Timo Huhtala has been appointed CEO of Karoo Oy, effective October 6, 2025. Timo joins Karoo from the steel company Outokumpu, where he most recently led the Outokumpu EvoCarbon business unit. Timo is one of Karoo Oy’s founders and has served as Chairman of the Board since the company’s inception, making him well-acquainted with the organization.
Timo brings 20 years of experience in the steel industry and has held numerous leadership positions in finance, business management, strategy, investments, and business development. He also has significant board experience.
Timo is known as a results-oriented, strategic, and people-centered leader who understands holistic business processes and their impact on growth and business development.
“I’m excited and inspired by my new role at Karoo. Under the leadership of Pyry Huhtala, Karoo Oy has done excellent work — not only in product development but also in building business readiness and brand recognition. Karoo has managed to create a strong brand in a very short time, and market interest in the product has been remarkably strong. This gives us confidence that Karoo Oy has all the prerequisites to grow into a significant international business. We have a great foundation to build on.”
In the near term, key priorities include appointing the company’s Board of Directors and further developing our business readiness and organizational structure so that we can begin deliveries of our campers during 2026, in line with our customer promise,” says Timo Huhtala.
With this change, Pyry Huhtala — who has served as CEO since the company’s founding — will transition to the role of Head of Strategy and Business Development. Pyry is one of the original founders of Karoo Oy and the originator of the company’s founding idea.
“I’m truly excited about Karoo’s next chapter. We’ve secured a top-level professional as our new CEO — Timo has a strong background in international business leadership. His reputation at Outokumpu has been excellent, and his teams have consistently delivered outstanding results. It’s easy for me to entrust him with the operational leadership of the company,” says Pyry Huhtala.
In his new role, Pyry will focus even more strongly on developing Karoo’s strategic direction and business model over the medium and long term.
“I’m enthusiastic about the opportunity to focus on what Karoo has always aimed for — redefining how people experience the freedom of movement and living. Through Karoo, we want to make a significant impact on what modern outdoor living will look like in the future,” Pyry Huhtala adds.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Timo Huhtala
Chief Executive Officer
Karoo Oy
timo@karoocamper.com
Karoo Oy is a Finnish startup founded in 2021 with the goal of bringing to market a completely new and innovative next-generation caravan. Following the online product launch (February 2024) and the start of pre-sales, Karoo achieved over 500 pre-orders in a short period — a remarkable achievement for a new company. The Karoo caravan was publicly unveiled for the first time at the industry’s largest trade fair in Düsseldorf in August 2025. The company plans to begin deliveries during 2026.