Aalto University
Management
President's Management Team, PMT

President Ilkka Niemelä
Ilkka Niemelä, DSc (Tech), is Professor of Computer Science and has a doctorate from Helsinki University of Technology in 1987. In 2014–2017 he served as Provost of Aalto University and earlier as Vice President for academic affairs and as Dean of the School of Science. Prior to that, he worked as Head of the Laboratory for Theoretical Computer Science, and Chair of the Degree programme in Computer Science and Engineering. The research group led by Niemelä has developed new methods for automated reasoning and constraint programming for solving challenging computational problems and explored various applications related to these methods. His international experience covers several visiting positions in different universities and research institutes and he holds several academic positions of trust.
President Ilkka Niemelä
[email protected]
personal assistant Hely Kilpeläinen
[email protected]
+358 50 452 4690

Provost Kristiina Mäkelä
Kristiina Mäkelä, PhD, was awarded a doctorate from the Helsinki School of Economics in 2006. She is Professor of International Business, and has worked as Vice Dean responsible for education at Aalto University School of Business. Her research focuses on the future of work, human resource management, and people-related issues in multinational corporations. She has also acted as deputy head of the Department of Management Studies and as head of the International Business Unit at the School of Business. Before joining Aalto, Mäkelä worked at Hanken School of Economics, as a researcher in several universities abroad and in various positions in the corporate world.
provost Kristiina Mäkelä
[email protected]
+358 40 559 3454
executive assistant Varpu Nousiainen
[email protected]
+358 50 443 2808

Vice President Ossi Naukkarinen
Research
Ossi Naukkarinen, PhD, has a doctorate from the University of Helsinki in 1998. He worked at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in several positions, e.g. as Professor of Aesthetics since 2016, Vice Dean for Education in 2012–2017 and Vice Dean for Research in 2017–2018. In his research, Naukkarinen specialises in questions of everyday aesthetics, environmental aesthetics and the nature of aesthetics as an academic discipline.
Vice President Ossi Naukkarinen
[email protected]
+358 50 307 4803
Executive Assistant Birgit Holmberg
[email protected]
+358 50 574 7500

Vice President Petri Suomala
Education
Petri Suomala, DSc, was awarded a doctorate degree from the Tampere University of Technology in 2004. He was appointed as Professor of Profitability Management and Management Accounting at Tampere University of Technology in 2009, as Head of Department of Industrial Management in 2011, as Dean of Faculty of Business and Built Environment in 2014 and as Vice President for Education in 2016. Petri Suomala has also worked at Lappeenranta University of Technology as Adjunct Professor, Industrial Engineering and Management, focusing especially on business economics.
Vice President Petri Suomala
[email protected]
+358 40 591 8044
Executive Assistant N.N.
interim Pirjo Peippo-Lavikka
[email protected]
+358 50 512 2496

Vice President Janne Laine
Innovation
Janne Laine, DSc (Tech), received his doctorate in 1996 from the Helsinki University of Technology in Forest Product Technology. He served as Dean of the Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering between 2014 and 2018 and, previously, as Head and Vice Head of the Department of Forest Products Technology and as Professor of Forest Products Chemistry. He has also worked at a research institute in Sweden. His research focuses mainly on modifying and applying natural materials, in particular nanocellulose, to different areas.
Janne Laine holds a number of positions of trust and board memberships. Tens of patents and several startup companies have emerged from research projects under his leadership.
Vice President Janne Laine
[email protected]
+358 50 465 6835
Executive Assistant Leena Kangasperko
[email protected]
+358 50 565 1027

Dean Gary Marquis
School of Engineering
Gary Marquis, DSc (Tech), has worked actively both in international and Finnish scientific communities. He moved to Finland in 1988 after working as a Research Fellow at the Silesian Technical University in Poland. He has worked at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the USA. In 2001, he started as a Professor of Steel Structures at the Lappeenranta University of Technology and was appointed Professor of Mechanics of Materials at the Helsinki University of Technology in 2008. Gary Marquis is a member of the Board of Directors of The International Institute of Welding (IIW) and is the long-serving chair of the IIW commission on fatigue.
Dean Gary Marquis
[email protected]
Executive Assistant Maarit Vuorio
[email protected]
+358 50 305 6601

Dean Timo Korkeamäki
School of Business
Timo Korkeamäki, PhD, received his doctorate from the University of South Carolina in the United States. Prior to joining Aalto University, he was professor of finance and head of Department of Finance and Economics at Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki. He has also worked as Hanken’s dean of research. Between 1995 and 2008 he worked in the United States.
Dean Timo Korkeamäki
[email protected]
Executive Assistant Iina Salmela
[email protected]
+358 50 471 3120

Dean Kristiina Kruus
School of Chemical Engineering
Kristiina Kruus, DSc (Tech), completed her dissertation on applied microbiology at the Helsinki University of Technology in 1996. She joined Aalto University from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd where she worked as Research Professor in the area of enzymology of renewable biomass. Kruus lead VTT’s side of the FinnCERES competence center, a joint initiative of Aalto and VTT to develop new biomaterials, funded by Academy of Finland flagship funding.
Kristiina Kruus is a member of several scientific committees, e.g., the Academy of Finland Research Council of Biosciences and Environment. Kruus is a docent in enzyme biotechnology at the University of Helsinki.
Dean Kristiina Kruus
[email protected]
Executive Assistant Anne Forsström
[email protected]
+358 50 384 1718

Dean Jouko Lampinen
School of Science
Jouko Lampinen, DSc (Tech), has worked as Professor of Computational Engineering at Aalto University and its predecessor Helsinki University of Technology since 1996. Lampinen has several years of experience as Head of Department at the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science and at the Department of Computer Science, which he was leading 2015–2016. Lampinen has also served as Vice Dean of the School of Science between 2014 and 2015. He has focused his research on probabilistic modelling of complex phenomena, pattern recognition and data-analysis.
Dean Jouko Lampinen
[email protected]
Executive Assistant Minna Darwish
[email protected]
+358 50 433 0868

Dean Jyri Hämäläinen
School of Electrical Engineering
Jyri Hämäläinen, PhD, DSc (Tech), has worked as a Professor at the Helsinki School of Technology and at Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering since 2008. His research has focused on wireless networks. Hämäläinen has a Doctorate in Applied Mathematics and in Signal Processing for Communications. Before joining Aalto, Hämäläinen has worked e.g. at the University of Oulu and at Nokia.
Dean Jyri Hämäläinen
[email protected]
Executive Assistant Harriet Jehkonen
[email protected]
+358 50 512 4194

Dean Tuomas Auvinen
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Tuomas Auvinen, PhD (arts policy and management), EMBA, has broad experience in demanding leadership roles at arts institutions. He has served as the Dean of the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts and Rector of Sibelius Academy, Executive Director of the Finnish National Theatre and CEO of the Association of Finnish Theatres. He led Sibelius Academy’s Arts Management Master’s Programme in 1999–2002. He has also taught creative leadership in Aalto University Executive Education’s Executive MBA and AaltoJOKO programmes. Auvinen is a member of the Board of the Finnish Film Foundation, and acts as Visiting Professor of Arts Management at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
Auvinen is a consultant at Creader Ltd, a management consulting company specialised in creative leadership he founded in 2009. He also is a partner at Boardman Ltd, a non-profit network developing active ownership and board work competences in Finland.
Dean Tuomas Auvinen
[email protected]
Executive Assistant Satu Mäkinen
[email protected]
+358 50 598 2451

Chief Financial Officer Marianna Bom
Marianna Bom, MSc (Econ), worked at Nokia Siemens Networks as Financial Director for the regional organisations of Finland, Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East since 1996 as well as the Financial Director for Latin America. Prior to this, she served as Business Controller at Kone Elevators for Russia and the Baltic countries.
CFO Marianna Bom
[email protected]
+358 50 575 3762
Executive Assistant Minna Vuorijärvi
[email protected]
+358 50 352 5173

Chief Digital Officer Kati Hagros
Kati Hagros, MSc (Eng), MSocSc, is responsible for planning the university’s digital transformation strategy and change process, as well as managing the IT services. Previously Hagros worked as the CIO of Kone Corporation, as well as the director responsible for Kone’s digitalisation strategy. She has also served in various leadership positions in Nokia, including VP Quality and Director, Strategy for Asia-Pacific. Hagros is a member of the board of Tokmanni Oyj, Siili Solutions Oyj and Nixu Oyj.
CDO Kati Hagros
[email protected]
+358 40 582 8785
Executive Assistant Mira Träskman
[email protected]
+358 50 464 3447

Director Teppo Heiskanen
Advancement and Corporate Engagement
Teppo Heiskanen, ThM, is responsible for the university`s corporate collaboration, donor and alumni relations, and career services. Mr Heiskanen has worked as director for the Nordic Council of Ministers in Denmark and Lithuania. Earlier, he has been at the University of Helsinki, for instance as the head of administration in the faculty of theology. Before Aalto University his firm has provided fundraising and international project management services for higher education.
Director Teppo Heiskanen
[email protected]
+358 50 363 3223
Executive Assistant Säde Kaarne
[email protected]
+358 50 577 9903

Head of Legal Kristiina Kemetter
Master of Laws (trained on the bench) Kristiina Kemetter is Head of Legal and Secretary to the Aalto University Board. Kristiina Kemetter joined Aalto University from Rocla, where she was responsible for the company’s legal affairs. She has also worked as Vice President, Legal Affairs of Amer Sports Corporation and as Market Court Judge at the Market Court of Finland.
Head of Legal Kristiina Kemetter
[email protected]
+358 40 522 1887

Director Sirkku Linna, Development
Sirkku Linna, MSc (Econ), MSocSc, has a long experience in societal relations and politics in Finland. Prior to joining Aalto, Linna worked e.g. as State Secretary at the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, as Chief Political Adviser for the Prime Minister of Finland, as Special Adviser in Economic Affairs for the Minister of Finance, and as influence team leader at The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries.
Director Sirkku Linna
[email protected]
+358 400 515 346
Executive Assistant Tarja Koikkalainen
[email protected]
+358 50 408 2505

Chief Human Resources Officer Riitta Silvennoinen
Riitta Silvennoinen, MSc (Econ), MBA, is responsible for personnel processes including competence and leadership development. Her previous position was Nokia's VP, Global HR Center of Expertise. She has been employed by Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks and Nokia Networks in versatile human resources management tasks from 1997. Prior to this, she worked at the Helsinki School of Economics' International Center.
CHRO Riitta Silvennoinen
[email protected]
+358 40 525 9257
Executive Assistant Marika Schröder
[email protected]
+358 50 592 1549
Managing Director Ville Jokela
Aalto University Properties Ltd
Ville Jokela, MSc (Eng) is managing director of Aalto University Campus and Real Estate (Aalto CRE), a wholly-owned subsidiary company of Aalto University. He is responsible for the real estate development and asset management, planning and execution of the Aalto University campus investment programme and real estate transactions. Ville Jokela joined Aalto University from the real estate and private equity investor Pontos Group, where he was responsible for the company’s real estate portfolio.
Managing Director Ville Jokela
[email protected]
050 380 9701
Executive Assistant Pia Ojanperä
[email protected]
+358 50 492 3006
Interim Director Annika Linna, Communications
[email protected]
+358 40 860 2600
Executive Assistant Nina Saarimaa
[email protected]
+358 50 464 1953
Aalto Management Team, AMT
The AMT consists of the members of the President’s Management Team (PMT), Chair of the Professors’ Council and representatives of the Aalto University Student Union (AYY), Aalto University Doctoral Student Association (Aallonhuiput), employee organisations as well as Aalto University Campus and Real Estate (ACRE). It meets once between the meetings of the Aalto University Foundation Board and the agenda consists of information and decision items of the board meetings. The aim of the AMT is to further transparency and open dialogue in decision making regarding university development, and to promote the university community’s commitment to the joint decisions. President Ilkka Niemelä acts as the chair of AMT, and the secretary isPirjo Peippo-Lavikka.
In addition to the PMT members, the AMT includes:
- Student Otto Usvajärvi (student representative, President of the Board of the Aalto University Student Union, AYY)
- Doctoral Student Nidia Obscura Acosta (doctoral student representative, Chair of the Aalto University Doctoral Student Association, Aallonhuiput)
- Professor Markku Kuula (Chair of the Professors’ Council)
- Facilities Manager Ilpo Kari (staff representative, deputy chief trade union representative for the Aalto University section of JHL, the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors)
- Professor Esko Niemi (staff representative, chief trade union representative for the Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals, JUKO)
- Payroll and HR Secretary Petri Peltonen (staff representative, trade union representative for the Aalto University Staff Association, AaltoHY).