Ari Virtanen

Professional history and Board experience

Ari Virtanen, M.Sc. Has worked in telecommunications, software engineering, the construction industry, the electrical industry and senior management consulting during his international career of more than 30 years. Virtanen completed his master’s thesis for Nokia on GSM network computing, and over the next 20 years he held numerous positions in Finland and Silicon Valley, and among other things being responsible for mobile switching center of Nokia Network’s. After Nokia, Virtanen led the Wireless Solutions unit at Elektrobit, which later developed into the current Bittium. While working at Kone, he established a new business unit to develop digital ”People Flow” -solutions that support the core business. After his years in Kone, Virtanen became the CEO of Ensto.

In 2019, Virtanen was invited to become a partner in IMS Talent, from which he transferred to his own senior management consulting company Granarium two years later. In addition to direct management searches, Virtanen is interested in clarifying the company’s situation and it’sthe operations based on it, which are often related to the company’s needs for transition and renewal. The smooth co-operation between the owners, the board and the management has been at the core of several assignments.

Virtanen has a long and varied experience in board work and corporate advisory. He currently serves on the boards of Lännen MCE Oy, Saxo Oy, The Warming Surfaces Company Oy and Elpac Oy. In addition, Mr Virtanen has several roles as an advisor to growth companies.

Virtanen is currently working on his PhD thesis on strategic transformation of industrial companies at the Department of Industrial Economics at Aalto University.

Active roles in Boardman

• Chair of Boardman’s Owners, Board and Management (OHJ) Reform Forum.

Special skills

• Direct search for management and board members
• Clarifying the company’s situational picture
• Developing co-operation between owners – board – management
• Evaluation and development of board work
• Business management and renewal through strategic transition projects
• Technology strategies, in particular the use of digitalisation
• The importance of values and culture in running a company.

Contact information

ari.virtanen(a)boardman.fi