New ambassadors to Russia, US, Portugal, South Korea and Bangladesh
The Finnish President of the Republic, Sauli Niinistö, appointed five new ambassadors at the presidential session held on Friday 8 May.
Russia
Antti Helanterä was appointed to serve as head of mission at Finland’s Embassy in Moscow, starting on 1 September 2020.
Helanterä will move to Moscow from the Department for Europe, where he has been head of the Secretariat of the Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty. In 2016–2019, he worked as minister at the Finnish Embassy in Moscow.
In the diplomatic service, he has also served at the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU in Brussels.
Helanterä joined the Foreign Ministry in 2004. He holds the degree of Licentiate of Philosophy.
United States
The President of the Republic appointed counselor for Foreign Affairs Mikko Hautala to serve as head of mission at Finland’s Embassy in Washington DC, starting on 1 September 2020.
Hautala will move to Washington DC from Moscow, where he has served as head of mission since 2016. In 2012–2016, he worked as Foreign Policy adviser in the Office of the President of the Republic.
In 2011–2012, Hautala worked as deputy head of mission at the Embassy in Moscow. In 2007–2011, he was diplomatic adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the diplomatic service, he has also held posts in Brussels and Kiev.
Hautala joined the Foreign Ministry in 1999. He holds a Master’s degree in social sciences and a Master of Arts degree.
Switzerland
The President of the Republic appointed counselor for Foreign Affairs Kirsti Kauppi to serve as Head of the Permanent Mission of Finland to Geneva, starting on 1 September 2020.
Kauppi will move to Geneva from the post of head of mission at the Embassy of Finland in Washington DC. In 2012–2015, she worked as director general of the Political Department and in 2009–2012, as director general of the Department for Africa and the Middle East.
In 2005–2009, Kauppi served as head of Finland’s Embassy in Vienna. In the Diplomatic Service, she has also held posts in Berlin, Brussels and Bangkok and worked twice in Washington DC.
Kauppi joined the Foreign Ministry in 1983. She holds the degree of Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration.
Portugal
The President of the Republic appointed counselor for Foreign Affairs Satu Suikkari-Kleven to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Lisbon, starting on 1 September 2020.
Suikkari-Kleven will move to Lisbon from post of head of mission at the Embassy of Finland in Bangkok, where she has worked since 2016. In 2012–2016, she served as director of the Unit for Public International Law.
Previously she has served as deputy head of Mission at the Finnish Embassy in Oslo and worked at the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations in New York. She has also worked for the UN in Geneva and for the European Council in Strasbourg.
Suikkari-Kleven joined the Foreign Ministry in 1998. She holds a Master of Laws degree.
South Korea
The President of the Republic appointed counselor for Foreign Affairs Pekka Metso to serve as head of mission at Finland’s Embassy in Seoul, starting on 1 September 2020.
Metso will move to Seoul from the Unit for UN and General Global Affairs, where he has served as ambassador for Facilitation of Interreligious Dialogue Processes. In 2002–2007, he worked as director of the Unit for Asia and Oceania.
In 2011–2015, he served as head of mission at the Finnish Embassy in Ljubljana. In the Diplomatic Service, he has worked in Geneva, Warsaw, Oslo and New York.
Metso joined the Foreign Ministry in 1987. He holds the degree of Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration.
Bangladesh
Additionally, the President of the Republic authorised ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde to represent Finland in Bangladesh.