Taina Kyllönen appointed as the Director of Communications at the University of Helsinki

Taina Kyllönen, MSc (Econ), has been appointed as the Director of Communications at the University of Helsinki. She will take up her new position on 1 September 2019.

As the Director of the University’s Communications and Community Relations sector, Kyllönen will be responsible for all the operations relating to communications, marketing, community relations, alumni activities and fundraising.

“It will be great to work in an academic community that educates future experts and researches the major challenges facing us, from climate change and urbanisation to artificial intelligence and ageing. The University of Helsinki has an inspiring vision and strategic plan and is strongly committed to developing teaching and research and enhancing its international profile,” Kyllönen says.

Kyllönen has most recently worked as Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Identity and Group Communications at the SSAB Group in Stockholm, Sweden, and has previously been employed in similar positions at the corporations Rautaruukki and Metso.

“We are pleased that an experienced communications and community relations professional will be joining us to work for the University and the University community. Kyllönen is strongly committed to value-driven operations and has extensive leadership experience from international companies investing in R&D,” states Esa Hämäläinen, director of administration at the University of Helsinki.

“It is exciting to change perspective by going from leading companies to a top university. High-quality teaching and research – and ensuring adequate financing – are vital for Finland’s future. Cooperation between the academic community and business corporations also plays a key role in to successfully and effectively solve issues relating to, for example, sustainable development of our society,” Kyllönen points out.