Board of Directors

 STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

The official union of the time-honored, historic Finnish American Chamber of Commerce and the young, progressive AmCham Finland, which is set to culminate in the coming months, was based on a smooth and swift courtship. It’s easy to see why.

Both associations, despite their distinct personalities and unique working styles share a commitment to one singular goal: promoting bilateral business success and friendship based on our excellent, longstanding Finnish-US relations.

And we, the new board of directors at AmCham Finland are determined to see that this mission stays true to its course.  Global economic uncertainties mean that there has never been a more critical need for rapport, exchange and solidarity, and in many ways, the translantic relationship has been put to test, to great success.

As we grow from strength to strength towards building the personal and economic relationships that are so important for business success, may I take this opportunity to convey with sincerity, my thanks to the outgoing board members for their time, grace and commitment.

I look forward to seeing you at the next AmCham event.

 

Heikki Malinen
Chairman of the Board
2010 - 2011
 

 

Chairman Heikki Malinen is President and CEO of Pöyry Plc, a global consulting and engineering company dedicated to balanced sustainability, with operations in 50 countries. Malinen is also Chairman of the Group's Executive Committee. Prior to his current position, he held the tenture of Executive Vice president, Strategy at forestry industry heavyweight UPM-Kymmene and was a member of UPM's Executive team. Malinen has worked for a decade in the United States, among others for McKinsey & Company and UPM-Kymmene before moving to Finland. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Master of Science in Economics from the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration. He is a dual citizen of Finland and the United States.

  

Vice Chairman Petteri Kilpinen is the CEO and Chairman of the Board at TBWA\Helsinki, the leading marketing consulting and planning group in Finland. He is also a member of the European Executive Committee of TBWA Global Network and a board member of L-Fashion Group and Thermidas Ltd. Advertising agency research has placed him as the best-known CEO and the most wanted partner within the industry in Finland. Kilpinen is a qualified trainer of top management groups and a popular guest speaker.

 

 

 

Secretary Suzanne Innes-Stubb is Counsel at law firm White & Case.She has practiced EU law in Brussels and Helsinki since 1999 and advises clients primarily on EU and UK competition and data protection/privacy law.  In particular, she advises companies across a broad range of industries on mergers, licensing and distribution agreements, compliance programs, cartels and investigations by the European Commission. Prior to joining White & Case in Brussels, Innes-Stubb was a lawyer for the UK Government. A regular speaker on data protection issues, she has also published  numerous articles on data protection and competition law  issues.

    

 

Robert Andersson is Senior Vice President of Corporate Alliances and Business Development at Nokia Corporation. In his long-standing professional career with Nokia, Andersson has held various key positions including Executive Vice President, Devices Finance, Strategy & Strategic Sourcing (2008-2009), Executive Vice President of Customer and Market Operations (2005-2008), Senior Vice President Europe Middle East and Africa (2004-2005) and Senior Vice President Asia Pacific (2002-2004) of Nokia Mobile Phones. Andersson holds a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University, DC and a Master of Science, Economics and Business Administration from the Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration, Helsinki.

 

 

Clarisse Berggårdh is the Chief Executive Officer of Finland’s leading magazine publisher Sanoma Magazines Finland.  She joined the publishing giant in 2006 as Advertising Sales Director and quickly rose to become its Director of Media Sales, Custom Publishing and Digital Media. Berggårdh has been described by her industry peers as combining visionary thinking, international brand expertise and positive energy with an excellent track record in managing sales even during challenging times.  

 

 

 

Carl Björnberg is Chairman of the Board of Myllykoski Corp, one of the largest and respected family-owned paper producers in the world with a rich history dating to 1892.  He joined the group in 1964, was named President in 1978 and became chairman of the board in 2005.  Björnberg has held memberships on the board and executive committee of the Central Association of Finnish Forest Industries and has also served on the board of the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers. He has also chaired the boards of the Confederation of European Paper Industries and Karl Fazer Ab. Björnberg has a Masters in Political Science from Helsinki University.  

  

Risto Honkanen is currently the Senior Vice President of Sales, at Mandatum Life.  He has held several Executive Sales and Marketing positions in Sampo Group since 1985. He is presently a member of the Executive Board at Mandatum Life Insurance Company Ltd and a Member of the Board of the SE Sampo Life Insurance Baltic operating in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Honkanen has had several positions of trust at various civil entities such as the Double Century Club, London (an organization of European pension insurance consultants and actuaries). He is also a Member of the Delegation at the Tax Payers' Association of Finland and Chairman of the Board at Nöykkiö High school in Espoo.

 

    

Jyrki Ovaska is President of the Paper Business Group at UPM-Kymmene Corporation, one of the world's leading forest industry groups.  He is also a member of its Group Executive Board.  In early part of his career Ovaska held several posts in production, customer service and business management with United Paper Mills and Jämsänkoski mill.  At UPM, Ovaska has held several key level positions, including that of Vice President, Business Development, President of Fine & Speciality Papers Division and President of its Magazine Paper Division.

   

  

Johan Sandell is General Manager of IBM Finland. He is a member of the executive team of IBM Nordic. Sandell joined IBM in 1983 and has a wealth of experience in the ICT & Services Industry, working with customers in some of IBM's key industry segments. He has held key leadership positions in sales, services and business management in the Nordics, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the UK which offer him a strong international business perspective. Sandell holds a Master of Science in Economics from the Hanken School of Economics. His military rank is lieutenant in the Finnish Navy (reserve).

    

 

Mikko Suonenlahti, General Manager of Growth Management Ltd brings 25 years of global management experience in business building, including fifteen years as a successful “hands on” venture capitalist. A board member of over twenty venture capital financed businesses in the US and in Finland, Sounenlahti has worked with policy makers in the US, Finland and the EU on entrepreneurship development. He is frequent guest speaker at events, including Fortune’s Global CEO Conference, among several others. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Helsinki School of Business and a BBA from Portland State University, Oregon, USA. He has attended executive education at Harvard Business School.

 

    

Tomi Vahevaara, Managing Director of Eli Lilly in Finland and the Baltic States, has some 20 years in the pharmaceuticals business. This includes over a decade in Eli Lilly, the world's 10th largest pharma company. Prior to that, Vahevaara has held various leadership positions in the industry. He has broad experience in sales and marketing operations with a special interest in innovation. Vahevaara is also vice chair of AmCham's HealthCare and Wellness Committee. 

 

 

HONORARY BOARD MEMBER (non-voting) Nicholas Kuchova, U.S Embassy