Anu Nevalainen

Anu Nevalainen has extensive experience in category management and purchasing, specifically in the fashion accessories and FMCG sectors. Anu has held roles such as Head of Assortment at Tokmanni, where they led brand and category development, managed projects, and supervised a team. Anu also worked as a Brand Manager at Transmeri, responsible for category and campaign management of fashion accessories. Prior to that, Anu held category management positions at Ibero Oy and Instru Optiikka Oy, where they focused on sunglasses, reading glasses, and optical accessories. Anu also has experience as a Category Manager at Suomen Lähikauppa Oy, overseeing children's clothing assortments. Anu's early career included roles at Spirit Store Oy, where they served as a Store Manager before transitioning to office management and buying. Overall, Anu has a strong background in category management, marketing, trend analysis, and team leadership across various retail sectors.

Anu Nevalainen has a diverse education history. In 1995, they attended North Karelia College, where they studied clothing and received an Artisan degree. Anu then pursued further education in clothing, completing tailor studies at Joensuu Vocational School in 1998. Anu continued their education at North Karelia University of Applied Sciences from 1999 to 2004, earning a Diploma in Crafts and Design with a focus on fashion design. In 2004 and 2005, they attended Kymeenlaakso Polytechnic and Helsinki Polytechnic, respectively, for specialization studies in design management and buying and selection planning in the clothing industry. Anu then enrolled at Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in 2010 and completed a BBA in business education the following year. In 2011, they pursued a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, which they completed in 2014. Anu's most recent educational endeavor was in 2024, attending SASKY koulutuskuntayhtymä for specialized training in service design and brand building.