Minna Helle has been appointed as Director General of the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK. Photo: Mikko Stig / Lehtikuva
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Minna Helle has been appointed as the new Director General of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK). She will succeed Jyri Häkämies, who will retire in May 2026.
The EK board confirmed the decision on Monday. Helle currently serves as Chief Executive of Technology Industries of Finland, one of EK’s key member organisations. She took on that role in autumn 2024.
This marks the first time a woman has been selected to lead EK or its predecessors, breaking a long-standing gender barrier in Finnish employer representation.
Helle has held several senior roles across both employer and employee organisations. Her career began on the union side, including positions at the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK), the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff (Akava), and the Union of Health and Social Care Professionals (Tehy).
In 2015, she became Finland’s first female National Conciliator, where she mediated labour disputes. She left the role in 2018 to join the employers’ side as Director of Labour Market Affairs at Technology Industries. The shift caused controversy at the time, with some union figures criticising her impartiality while in the conciliator post.
In 2021, Helle was promoted to Deputy CEO at Technology Industries before taking the top job in 2024.
Born in 1972 and raised in a rural village in Kivijärvi, Central Finland, Helle holds a Master of Laws degree. She completed her studies in 1997 during a period of slow economic recovery following the early 1990s recession.
EK Chair Aaro Cantell said the decision to appoint Helle was unanimous. “Minna Helle has deep experience in EK’s federation cooperation, advocacy, and decision-making processes. She has a clear understanding of the importance of renewal and growth for national welfare,” he said in a statement.
Cantell added, “I am convinced that Minna has excellent capabilities to continue EK’s work for Finnish business and, through that, all Finns.”
Helle said in the statement that successful companies form the foundation of Finland’s prosperity. She described EK’s role as central in supporting business, driving sustainable growth, and promoting entrepreneurship and market economy values.
“It is a great honour to serve the entire Finnish business sector. I will take on the role with energy and commitment, together with EK’s advocacy professionals and member federations,” she said.
EK has played a central role in influencing labour market reforms under the current government, including advancing export-led wage models, expanding local bargaining, restricting solidarity strikes, and reshaping earnings-related unemployment benefits.
Helle’s predecessor Jyri Häkämies has led EK since 2012. His annual earnings in 2023 totalled €415,905, making him one of the highest-paid advocacy leaders in Finland. In comparison, Helle earned €320,000 last year in her role at Technology Industries.
The EK board’s selection process involved its working committee, which reviewed four final candidates before presenting Helle as its recommendation. Public speculation had included other names such as former Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Nokia’s Head of Government Relations Mikko Hautala, but both ruled themselves out in late 2025.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
