Finnish Industry Investment has appointed Jan Sasse as president and chief executive, with effect from 6 March 2017.
Martin Backman, Finnish Industry Investment’s incumbent president and CEO, will take up a new position as CEO of Aktia Bank on the same day.
Sasse has headed Finnish Industry Investment’s growth investments team since 2015, with responsibility for direct investments in growth companies. He has long international management experience in both investment and consulting fields in companies such as Accenture, Norvestia and Satama Interactive.
Sasse has also gained experience working on the boards of companies undergoing international growth and in the healthcare sector, in companies including Coronaria Hoitoketju, Stella Homecare, Idean Enterprises and Yellow Film & TV.
“The company’s board of directors is pleased to appoint Sasse, with his solid and diversified business experience, as the company’s next president and CEO. Sasse has extremely broad international experience ranging from private equity to complex corporate restructuring,” says Esa Lager, Finnish Industry Investment’s board chairman. “Martin Backman has been president and CEO of Finnish Industry Investment since 2014. During that time he developed a firm grasp of the company’s operations and produced good results. Sasse is an excellent choice for leading the company onwards to further success.”
“I’m delighted at being appointed president and CEO of Finnish Industry Investment. The company plays a central role both in financing growth companies in Finland, and in promoting the international expansion of Finnish companies. It will be rewarding to continue with Finnish Industry Investment’s skilled personnel along our chosen development path. We will keep up our good work as a financer of Finnish businesses and an active player in the venture capital and private equity industry,” says Sasse.
