Former Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (NCP) has had his position as the new head of Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra rubber-stamped by the organisation’s supervisory board.
The final two candidates for the €18,500 per month job were Katainen, who leaves his job as Finland’s EU Commissioner at the end of October, and university Professor Markku Wilenus.
Both candidates had previously been interviewed twice for the position, and Sitra’s board had already named Katainen as the preferred candidate for the job.
However a group of MPs who make up Sitra’s supervisory board met again with Katainen and Wilenus on Friday afternoon to grill them one more time.
“The Board of Directors considered the matter thoroughly and as a result of the vote, [EU Commission] Vice-President Jyrki Katainen was elected to the position” says Antti Lindtman (SDP) Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sitra.
Katainen had broad political support to get the role, although the Finns Party had backed Professor Wilenus.
“Enabling Finland to be a pioneer in social change and finding solutions to sustainable well-being is close to my heart” Katainen said in a statement.
