Posts by The Hanseatic
Leena Rantasalo appointed VTT VP
Leena Rantasalo has been appointed as vice-president, communications and brand for VTT. She moves to the position after having headed VTT’s internal and external communications, media relations and the communications team since 2018. Previously, she headed development of VTT’s culture.
In her role as vice-president, Leena will lead and develop VTT’s strategic communications and brand, in alignment with the company’s business goals and strategy, reputation management and crisis communications and capabilities.
As a vice-president, Leena is a member of VTT’s commercial-operations leadership team.
Connect with Leena on LinkedIn
Read MoreThird disruption of Finland-Germany cable reported
Finnish and Swedish authorities are investigating a possible breach of the C-Lion 1 undersea cable linking Finland and Germany, Yle, a Finnish news outlet, reports.
The location of the break is reported to be near the island of Gotland in the Swedish economic zone, where a number of subsea cables have been damaged in recent months.
The cause of the break was not immediately known, and it may be due to the previous damage done the cable, a source told Yle.
The C-Lion 1 submarine cable, operated by Cinia, a Finland-based firm, was last damaged on Christmas Day. Finnish authorities believe that break was caused by the Eagle S, an oil tanker suspected of acting on Moscow’s orders. The same cable was also damaged last November.
Source: Yle
Read MorePirjo Juntunen joins BusinessOulu
Pirjo Juntunen has joined BusinessOulu as a key account director for social and health services. With extensive experience collaborating with companies and partners in workforce and economic development, both domestically and internationally, Pirjo brings a wealth of knowledge to the BusinessOulu team.
In her new role, Pirjo will focus on supporting businesses, assisting them with business development, growth strategies and navigating change. She is also committed to aiding companies in recruiting skilled personnel and enhancing employee competencies.
Pirjo holds a degree in social sciences and has completed an executive MBA. Her professional background includes leadership and specialist positions, where she has demonstrated a solution-oriented approach and a passion for fostering business growth.
Read MoreArenijus Jackus new chair of Rail Baltica supervisory board
Arenijus Jackus has been appointed as the new chair of the supervisory board of RB Rail AS.
Arenijus Jackus brings a wealth of expertise to his new role as chair. Holding a master’s degree in transport engineering economics and management from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, he has been deeply involved with the Rail Baltica project since its inception. Currently serving as the Chief Rail Baltica Lietuva officer at LTG, Arenijus has dedicated over 14 years to leadership roles within the public sector.
His extensive experience spans strategic planning and finance, EU-investment administration, project implementation, international relations and EU affairs, gained during his tenure at the ministry of transport and communications, which began in 1997.
Beyond his government roles, Arenijus has held prominent governance positions, including chair of the management board at Kaunas Airport, member of the supervisory board of LTG Infra and board positions with Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, Oro Navigacija and Rail Baltica.
His appointment marks the continuation of the rotational leadership structure that ensures equitable representation among Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the three member states of the Rail Baltica joint venture.
Connect with Arenijus on LinkedIn
Read MoreTomi Hugg named director of design services at Innokas
Tomi Hugg recently began as the new director of design services at Innokas.
An industry veteran in design engineering, Tomi brings over 20 years of experience in heavy industry from companies of various sizes. Working for Oulu-based Innokas marks his first venture into a company that specialises in medical and other safety-critical technologies
“All the new people and technologies have inspired me to get started,” he says of the transition. He also notes a strong balance between familiar systems and exciting new opportunities that he is eager to explore.
“The deep technological expertise at Innokas across industries was a major reason for my decision to apply,” Tomi says.
Read MoreDenmark not ready for long-term defence buildup, business lobby warns
Danish manufacturers are at the ready to facilitate the rapid military buildup to the tune of 50bn kroner (€6.7bn) over the next two years announced by the prime minister on Wednesday. But they warn that any return to a military-industrial complex needed to sustain the military for the long-term will require more than just money.
“We should use this an opportunity to think strategically and truly modernise our society,” Lars Sandahl Sørensen, the managing director of DI, a business lobby, said. “Lawmakers won’t be able to avoid making considerable reforms, improving efficiency and investing in new technology and competitiveness.”
The additional funding comes on top of a 10-year, 190bn kroner plan to revamp the military, bringing it in line with Washington’s increasing demands that Nato members spend more on defence.
Denmark currently spends 2.4% percent of its gross domestic product on defence. That places it above the Nato target of 2%, but in January, Mette Frederiksen, the PM, told Danes to be prepared for cuts to some services, as her government looked towards spending 5% of GDP on defence in the coming years
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The additional funding comes after years of cuts have hollowed out the military’s capabilities. And with Washington’s willingness to come to Europe’s aide in the event of a Russian attack now in doubt, Ms Frederiksen said the military would be allowed to fast-track purchases until it was rearmed, by-passing a lengthy and scandal-ridden tendering process.
Correction: We originally stated that the Nato spending target was 3%. Sorry.
Anders Wiberg named interim head of Destination Bornholm
Six months after joining Destination Bornholm, Anders Wiberg has been named interim head of the island’s publicly funded tourism-promotion agency.
Anders joined Destination Bornholm in August as the head of marketing and tourism information. He takes over the reins of the outfit after the unexpected resignation of its now-former director.
Anders will serve as interim head until February 2026.
Connect with Anders on LinkedIn
Read MoreAudrius Matikiūnas appointed interim CEO of INVL Asset Management
Audrius Matikiūnas has been appointed interim CEO of INVL Asset Management. He has been with the Invalda INVL group for nearly nine years, previously serving as head of business development and as a member of the company’s investment committee.
With a background in law and extensive experience in asset management, Audrius has played a key role in the company’s strategic initiatives. His appointment took effect on 7 January after the Bank of Lithuania granted its approval. He will oversee INVL Asset Management’s operations until a permanent CEO is selected.
As interim CEO, Audrius will work with the company’s board to ensure continuity and drive on-going projects.
INVL Asset Management is part of the Invalda INVL group. It manages over €1.6 billion in assets across private equity, real assets and private debt. The company operates in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, with a team of more than 120 professionals.
Connect with Audrius on LinkedIn
Read MoreBritish captain and ship operator sentenced over fatal 2021 collision
A court in Southampton, England, has sentenced the captain of a British cargo vessel and its operator for their roles in a December 2021 Baltic Sea collision that resulted in the deaths of two Danish seamen.
The crash occurred when the Scot Carrier, managed by Intrada Ships Management Ltd, collided with the Karin Høj, a Danish-registered barge, causing it to capsize. Investigators later determined that serious failures in watch-keeping and safety protocols contributed to the accident.
Sam Farrow, the 33-year-old master of the Scot Carrier, was sentenced on 14 Feb to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, for failing to prevent the collision, despite being aware that his second officer was unfit for duty. He was also ordered to pay £25,000 (€30,000) in legal costs.
Meanwhile, Intrada Ships Management Ltd was fined £180,000 and ordered to pay £500,000 in legal costs for failing to enforce safety measures that could have prevented the accident.
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In 2022, a Danish court sentenced Mark Wilkinson, the second officer, to 18 months in prison after admitting to gross negligence and intoxication while on duty. Additionally, he received a 12-year ban from entering Denmark and had his maritime license revoked for operations in Danish waters.
(📸 Sjöräddningssällskapet)
EU in talks to fund fleet to repair damaged subsea cables
The European Union is mulling a public-private initiative worth “hundreds of millions” of euros to buy ships that can promptly repair subsea cables in case of damage or sabotage, the bloc’s tech chief said.
“We are discussing now with member states what would be the amount that is needed,” Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s executive vice-president for technological sovereignty, security and democracy, said on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. “When it comes to security we see that there’s an urgent need for action.”
In recent months, there have been a string of incidents in the Baltic Sea in which telecommunication and power cables strung across the sea floor between countries were damaged by passing ships. While it is unclear whether these disruptions were accidental or intentional, they have spurred the EU to focus on its infrastructure’s resilience, including by ramping up the continent’s cable-repairing fleet.
Subsea cables carry internet and power connections across countries and continents and their loss can cause disruptions to digital services, including web access and payments, and force telecommunications providers to reroute traffic. More than 95% of global data traffic goes through subsea cables, according to the International Cable Protection Committee.
Source: Bloomberg
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