Jorma Ollila
Encyclopedia
Jorma Jaakko Ollila is the Chairman (1999– ) and former CEO of the Nokia Corporation
(1992–2006) and a Member of the Board of Directors
of Ford Motor Company
(2000– ), UPM-Kymmene (1997– ), and Otava Books and Magazines Group Ltd. (1996–).
As of June 1, 2006 he became the Non-Executive Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell
and continues as the Non-Executive Chairman of Nokia
, the company he is credited with turning into the world's largest handset maker.
, Finland, Ollila started high school studies in Vaasa
, in Vaasan Lyseon Lukio. Ollila studied during high school with the help of a scholarship at the United World College of the Atlantic, where he earned his International Baccalaureate Diploma. He then went on to study for a Master of Political Science (University of Helsinki
), a Master of Science
(Econ.) (London School of Economics
, LSE) and a Master of Science (Eng.) in Engineering Physics
(Helsinki University of Technology
). In 2003, he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics
(LSE), and was awarded Honorary Membership of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE). Ollila has also received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Helsinki
, Helsinki University of Technology
and University of Vaasa
.
Ollila is known to have been very active in student politics
during his studies, and still today participates in Finnish political debate. As a conscript in the Finnish Defence Forces
, he received reserve officer training. While attending the Finnish Reserve Officer School
he was the Chairman of his Reserve Officer Course.
's London and Helsinki offices, and when he joined Nokia his tasks involved international investment deals. A year later, in 1986, Ollila found himself as head of Finance during Nokia's renewal under then CEO Kari Kairamo
. His career at Nokia continued as he was appointed as chief of the mobile phones section in 1990, and CEO two years later in 1992. When Ollila first came into power the company had suffered from internal disputes and had been run into a financial crisis over a number of years.
As CEO of Nokia he has been the leader of the strategy that restructured the former industrial conglomerate into one of the major companies in the mobile phone and telecommunications infrastructure markets.
In 1999 Ollila seriously considered taking part in the Finnish
presidential election following a request from a member of the National Coalition Party
, Sauli Niinistö
who was at that time Finnish finance minister
and who later became Speaker of the Finnish Parliament
. This was in spite the fact that Ollila belongs to a different party, the Finnish Centre party, which he has been involved with since his activities in student politics at the University of Helsinki.
He acted as CEO and the Chairman of Nokia from 1999 to 2006 although he still serves as a part-time Chairman. He was succeeded as CEO by Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo
. On September 15, 2010, he announced he intended to step down from the position of Chairman in 2012.
Ollila is the Chairman of the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA
), the most reputed economic and social studies think tank in Finland. Since 2005, he is chairman of the European Round Table of Industrialists
(ERT).
in its new corporate form of Royal Dutch Shell
.
While in the past both of Shell's "parent" companies ("Royal Dutch" and "Shell" Transport and Trading) have had non-executive directors (often very distinguished ones) none of them has become very involved in the day to day running of Shell's huge business. It has been suggested that this has been a contributory factor in some of Shell's business failures
and reputational problems.
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
(1992–2006) and a Member of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
(2000– ), UPM-Kymmene (1997– ), and Otava Books and Magazines Group Ltd. (1996–).
As of June 1, 2006 he became the Non-Executive Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
and continues as the Non-Executive Chairman of Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
, the company he is credited with turning into the world's largest handset maker.
Education
After elementary school education in Kirkon koulu in KurikkaKurikka
Kurikka is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The population of Kurikka is and the municipality covers an area of of which is inland water . The population density is...
, Finland, Ollila started high school studies in Vaasa
Vaasa
Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. It received its charter in 1606, during the reign of Charles IX of Sweden and is named after the Royal House of Vasa...
, in Vaasan Lyseon Lukio. Ollila studied during high school with the help of a scholarship at the United World College of the Atlantic, where he earned his International Baccalaureate Diploma. He then went on to study for a Master of Political Science (University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
), a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
(Econ.) (London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, LSE) and a Master of Science (Eng.) in Engineering Physics
Engineering physics
Engineering physics is the study of the combined disciplines of physics, engineering and mathematics in order to develop an understanding of the interrelationships of these three disciplines. Fundamental physics is combined with problem solving and engineering skills, which then has broad...
(Helsinki University of Technology
Helsinki University of Technology
Aalto University School of Science and Technology , was the temporary name for Helsinki University of Technology during the process of forming the Aalto University...
). In 2003, he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE), and was awarded Honorary Membership of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
(IEEE). Ollila has also received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
, Helsinki University of Technology
Helsinki University of Technology
Aalto University School of Science and Technology , was the temporary name for Helsinki University of Technology during the process of forming the Aalto University...
and University of Vaasa
University of Vaasa
The University of Vaasa is a multidisciplinary, business-oriented university in Vaasa, Finland. The campus of the university is situated by the Gulf of Bothnia adjacent to downtown Vaasa. The university has evolved from a school of economics founded in 1968 to a university consisting of three...
.
Ollila is known to have been very active in student politics
Student activism
Student activism is work done by students to effect political, environmental, economic, or social change. It has often focused on making changes in schools, such as increasing student influence over curriculum or improving educational funding...
during his studies, and still today participates in Finnish political debate. As a conscript in the Finnish Defence Forces
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
, he received reserve officer training. While attending the Finnish Reserve Officer School
Reserve Officer School
According to the military, the Finnish defence doctrine relies on the principle of territorial defence which means that the whole of Finland must be defended in all cases. It is claimed that this requires a very large war-time reservist defence force to deter and fight aggression. Career officers...
he was the Chairman of his Reserve Officer Course.
Career
Prior to joining Nokia in 1985 Jorma Ollila worked eight years in corporate banking at CitibankCitibank
Citibank, a major international bank, is the consumer banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York...
's London and Helsinki offices, and when he joined Nokia his tasks involved international investment deals. A year later, in 1986, Ollila found himself as head of Finance during Nokia's renewal under then CEO Kari Kairamo
Kari Kairamo
Kari Antero Oswald Kairamo, titled Vuorineuvos , was a Chairman and CEO of Nokia Corporation and a significant and popular person in the industry, who was also actively involved in Finland's foreign policy.-Career:Kari Kairamo had a Master's degree in engineering...
. His career at Nokia continued as he was appointed as chief of the mobile phones section in 1990, and CEO two years later in 1992. When Ollila first came into power the company had suffered from internal disputes and had been run into a financial crisis over a number of years.
As CEO of Nokia he has been the leader of the strategy that restructured the former industrial conglomerate into one of the major companies in the mobile phone and telecommunications infrastructure markets.
In 1999 Ollila seriously considered taking part in the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
presidential election following a request from a member of the National Coalition Party
National Coalition Party (Finland)
The National Coalition Party is a liberal conservative political party in Finland founded in 1918.The National Coalition Party is one of the four largest parties in Finland, along with the Social Democratic Party, the Centre Party and the True Finns...
, Sauli Niinistö
Sauli Niinistö
Sauli Väinämö Niinistö is a Finnish politician from National Coalition Party. He is also President of the Football Association of Finland. A lawyer by training, he was Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2003 and the National Coalition Party candidate in the 2006 presidential election...
who was at that time Finnish finance minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
and who later became Speaker of the Finnish Parliament
Speakers of the Parliament of Finland
The Speaker of the Parliament of Finland , along with two Deputy Speakers, is elected by Parliament during the first plenary session each year. Speakers are chosen for a year at a time...
. This was in spite the fact that Ollila belongs to a different party, the Finnish Centre party, which he has been involved with since his activities in student politics at the University of Helsinki.
He acted as CEO and the Chairman of Nokia from 1999 to 2006 although he still serves as a part-time Chairman. He was succeeded as CEO by Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo
Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo
Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo currently chairs the committee for World Design Capital Helsinki 2012, and is the former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Nokia, as well former board member for Nokia Siemens Networks.-Career:Kallasvuo joined Nokia in 1980 as Corporate Counsel, and has held...
. On September 15, 2010, he announced he intended to step down from the position of Chairman in 2012.
Ollila is the Chairman of the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA
Research Institute of the Finnish Economy
The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy is a major Finnish think tank for economic, policy and social studies, financed by employers' organisations. ETLA's offices are located in Helsinki, Finland....
), the most reputed economic and social studies think tank in Finland. Since 2005, he is chairman of the European Round Table of Industrialists
European Round Table of Industrialists
The European Round Table of Industrialists was born out of a growing preoccupation with thestate of the European economy in the early 1980s. Frequently diagnosed as “eurosclerosis”, the...
(ERT).
The challenge of Shell
Ollila is the first non-Dutch / non-British person to be the Chairman of Shell. He is also the first Chairman chosen for this multinational corporationMultinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
in its new corporate form of Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
.
While in the past both of Shell's "parent" companies ("Royal Dutch" and "Shell" Transport and Trading) have had non-executive directors (often very distinguished ones) none of them has become very involved in the day to day running of Shell's huge business. It has been suggested that this has been a contributory factor in some of Shell's business failures
Corporate governance
Corporate governance is a number of processes, customs, policies, laws, and institutions which have impact on the way a company is controlled...
and reputational problems.
Badges of honor
- Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) (2008) https://ukinfinland-stage.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/?view=News&id=3219445 - Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of FinlandOrder of the Lion of FinlandThere are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland . The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a...
(2005), - Beijing Honorary Citizenship (2002), China
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (1999),
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
(1997), - Commander, 1st Class of the Order of the White RoseOrder of the White RoseThe Order of the White Rose of Finland is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor,...
of Finland (1996), - Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic (1996),
- Commander of the Order of Orange-NassauOrder of Orange-NassauThe Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
(1995), - Order of the White StarOrder of the White StarThe Order of the White Star was instituted on 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonian citizens and foreigners to give recognition for services rendered to the Estonian state.- Classes :The Order of the White Star comprises five classes:...
Estonia (1995),
External links
- From ragbag to riches, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, August 3, 2005