About

Anu Tuomola joined Citycon, a leading Nordic and Baltic region shopping centre owner and manager, in 2011. Tuomola joined Citycon after gaining private practice experience for six years as a partner at Castrén & Snellman Attorneys. During this time she spent seven months seconded to Allen & Overy between 2006 and 2007 and also spent over two years at Nordea Bank and Merilampi Marttila Laitasalo Attorneys, as legal counsel and senior associate respectively. Specialising in mergers and acquisitions, real estate and corporate law among others, Tuomola heads a team of three and is responsible for establishing a business partner-like relationship with the company. ‘We enable, not prevent; we are proactive, not reactive; we provide solutions, not problems’. Tuomola has also delivered an enhanced availability of legal services and support for the company’s operations in eight European countries, despite only having personnel in one country. In addition she has significantly enhanced the department’s response times, ‘we guarantee same day response’ she says. Among her achievements, Tuomola has overseen the transformation of the company’s legal affairs from a pure compliance and governance unit into business partner unit that is appreciated throughout the company. She has also overseen the introduction and implementation of an effective internal code of conduct and whistleblowing procedure, including achieving full commitment of entire personnel and training all employees. Citycon operates in a market that, like many others, is becoming heavily regulated. Tuomola has been able to deliver legal support to manage the increase in work volume and legal complexity under tight cost pressure. As a member of the company’s corporate management committee, she is also able to participate and influence in strategic decisions that affect the whole company.