Mr Heikki Kehälinna becomes the number two within KTV

From heading international affairs to holding the position of Chief Executive Manager

As a result of amended union rules, KTV no longer elects a Vice President. In place of the previous arrangement the Union Council now votes, in addition to electing the President of the Union, for two Chief Executive Managers. Mr Heikki Kehälinna, aged 52, who was Head of the Communication and Public Affairs Department of KTV, and who will also now act as deputy to the President was elected, along with Ms Teija Asara-Laaksonen, aged 44, the convenor of the KTV Vantaa Region.

Mr Kehälinna has been involved in the international affairs of the trade union movement for a long period of time. Until now, for more than ten years, he has worked as the International Secretary of KTV. In addition to this he has chaired, since 1996, the SAK European Committee, and since 1994, SASK, the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland.

Both Mr Kehälinna and Ms Asara-Laaksonen will also become members of the Executive Council of SAK. The two seats in the Executive which are allocated to KTV were left vacant at the recent SAK Congress elections, in anticipation of these new nominations.

Hilkka Jukarainen