Jukka Majanen, Master of International Management, MBA and Master of Science in Business Administration, has been appointed to lead the Asian operations of Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development (Aalto EE). He took up his new position on 29 May 2023.
Majanen has extensive experience in the field of leadership training. From 2001 to 2023, he worked at the international INSEAD business school in various positions in the field of leadership training and was especially involved with customized programs for businesses.
Majanen – who at the beginning of his career worked, for example, for the pharmaceutical company Leiras, owned by the Huhtamaki Group at that time – has now enjoyed working in the field of leadership training for more than two decades.
Aalto EE also has a lot to offer in this sector in Asia."
“This is a great business: we help people lead better, operate more efficiently and develop their own knowledge and skills. Aalto EE also has a lot to offer in this sector in Asia. Our sustainability offering, for example, is top-notch and among the priorities of many organizations at the moment,” says Majanen.
Aalto EE has a subsidiary in Singapore that is responsible for the company's business operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Majanen leads the subsidiary and its international team.
“I am very happy to welcome Jukka Majanen to Aalto EE. Jukka has unique knowledge of the field of leadership training but also of the Asian market, having lived and worked in Singapore for almost 30 years,” notes Tom Lindholm, the Managing Director of Aalto EE and Head of Lifewide Learning at Aalto University.
Finland is now attracting interest in Asia
For Majanen, Aalto EE appeared interesting as an employer as it is a special player in the competitive markets of Singapore and Asia and much more flexible than many of its competitors.
“This makes my position demanding, but also very interesting. Aalto University’s brand is very attractive, as Aalto combines technology and design with business studies. Thanks to this multi-disciplinarity, Aalto EE is able to offer its customers education that other business schools are not,” shares Majanen.
Finland's brand in Asia is currently better than ever before."
Finnish by birth, Majanen has followed Aalto with interest for years. It is also interesting to return to work for a Finnish company for the first time since 1997.
“There will certainly be plenty of challenges ahead. There are many opportunities for growth in Asia, and we are looking to generate growth and new pillars for business. Our Singapore office has already worked hard to raise awareness of our brand. This work should be continued so that our potential customers and partners know us and better understand why Aalto EE would be an attractive partner for them.”
According to Majanen, now is an opportune time for a Finnish company to seek further growth and better recognition in the Asian market.
“Finland's brand in Asia is currently better than ever before. When I moved to Singapore, neither Finland nor Nokia mobile phones were very well known. Now everyone knows Finland as the happiest country in the world. It is also fantastic to build on that foundation in cooperation with non-Finnish companies,” notes Majanen.
Anu Vänskä, who led Aalto EE's Singapore office from 2021 to 2023, has just returned to Finland as planned.
“Anu Vänskä has successfully led Aalto EE's Asian operations in a very difficult market situation, which has been affected by, among other things, the Covid-19 pandemic and its related restrictions. On behalf of our entire company, I would like to warmly thank Anu for the excellent work she has done and wish her all the best for the future,” states Tom Lindholm.
Further information and interview requests
Anu Haapala
Communication Manager
Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development
Tel. +358 50 447 1264
anu.haapala@aaltoee.fi
Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development
Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development (Aalto EE) offers impactful education, development, and training services. Aalto EE combines a wide range of practical expertise with the latest research from Aalto University. We aim to provide a sustainable platform for lifewide learning at different stages of a career. Furthermore, we operate as a strategic partner for organizations, enabling renewal in a rapidly changing business environment. Our unique portfolio of programs offers concrete solutions, intellectual capital, and professional head start for both individuals and organizations.
Aalto EE has two strongholds: our main office and learning facilities are in Helsinki, while our operations in Asia-Pacific are led from Singapore. In addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto EE offers education programs worldwide. As a part of Aalto University, it holds three most respected business university accreditations – AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS – which places it among the top 1% of institutions in the world.