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 Tuija Mikkola
[email protected]
+358 50 479 5544

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 N.N.
temporarily Birgit Holmberg
[email protected]
+358 50 574 7500

Dean Kari Tammi 
School of Engineering 

Kari Tammi,DSc (Tech), worked previously as vice dean responsible for impact at the School of Engineering.  He was appointed associate professor with tenure in the Department of Mechanical Engineering on 1 February 2020. The field of his professorship is design of mechatronic machines. Kari Tammi received his doctorate in automation and systems engineering from the Helsinki University of Technology in 2007. Before moving to Aalto University in 2015, he worked as a research professor at VTT.  

Dean Kari Tammi 
[email protected] 

Executive Assistant Maarit Vuorio 
[email protected] 
+358 50 305 6601 

Appointment news 

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
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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 Jussi Ryynänen
School of Electrical Engineering

Jussi Ryynänen received his doctorate in electrical engineering in 2004 at Helsinki University of Technology. He was appointed associate professor with tenure in 2011 and full professor with tenure at Aalto University in 2019. The field of his professorship is microelectronics design, especially in developing integrated circuits for future wireless networks. Jussi Ryynänen has previously worked as the head of the Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering and as the head of the Electronic and Electrical Engineering study option. 

Dean Jussi Ryynänen
[email protected]

Executive Assistant Harriet Jehkonen
[email protected]
+358 50 512 4194

Appointment news

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
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Executive Assistant Satu Mäkinen
[email protected]
+358 50 598 2451

Communications Director Laura Aalto 

Laura Aalto, Master of Arts, is responsible for the university’s internal and external communications and marketing services and their development, as well as media relations and brand management. She joined Aalto University from the City of Helsinki, where she was Deputy Executive Director of Culture and Leisure. Before that, she held multiple senior positions in communications and marketing, e.g. those of CEO at Helsinki Marketing, and Marketing and Communications Director at the International Design Foundation. Laura Aalto is also vice-chairman of the board in the HAM Helsinki Art Museum Foundation and member of the board in the Amos Rex art museum, Finlandia Hall and the UPM-Kymmene Cultural Foundation. 

Director Laura Aalto
[email protected]
+358 40 507 9660

Executive Assistant Nina Saarimaa
[email protected]
+358 50 464 1953

Appointment news

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 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

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

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