toimitusjohtajaCEO

Toimitusjohtaja, often translated as CEO, is the highest-ranking executive in a Finnish company. The position combines overall strategic leadership with responsibility for the daily management of operations. In Finnish corporate governance, the toimitusjohtaja typically reports to the board of directors and is accountable for implementing the board’s strategy and ensuring the organization’s performance.

Core duties include setting strategic objectives, directing the executive management team, overseeing financial performance, risk management, and compliance with laws and regulations. The toimitusjohtaja shapes corporate culture, communicates with shareholders and other stakeholders, and ensures effective internal controls. The role requires leadership, decision-making, and the ability to align diverse functions toward common goals.

Appointment and dismissal are typically board decisions in Finnish companies. The board negotiates a contract with the toimitusjohtaja that covers objectives, compensation, and termination terms. The CEO may be supported by a management team and presides over operational units, while the board retains ultimate oversight and approves major strategic moves and governance matters.

Terminology varies by country. In Finnish usage, toimitusjohtaja is the Finnish equivalent of the CEO or managing director. Some firms distinguish between a separate chair of the board (hallituksen puheenjohtaja) and the chief executive, aligning with governance models that separate oversight and management. In international contexts the term may be used interchangeably with CEO or MD.