Photo by Veikko Somerpuro
Helsinki Innovation Services (HIS), the commercialisation arm of the University of Helsinki, will launch a search for a new chief executive officer this month following the decision of current CEO Marko Hakovirta to depart.
Hakovirta, who has led Helsinki Innovation Services as CEO since May 2024, will move to the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences to serve as its president and chief executive officer.
He will remain employed by HIS until the end of August, before stepping into his new role on 1 September.
“It has been a privilege to work with such a highly skilled team, world-class researchers and the university’s leadership. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and for the excellent collaboration we have enjoyed – it has allowed me to contribute to the long-term work that enhances the impact of research in the world.
“I am confident that, going forward, we will continue to develop bold innovation initiatives together and further reinforce skills-based renewal.”
Marko Hakovirta
Before joining HIS, Hakovirta was a professor at North Carolina State University from July 2016 to May 2024. He also, until July 2021, served as head of the Department of Forest Biomaterials.
Hakovirta has spent his career to date working for industry and academia, where his employers have also included Auburn University and Georgia Tech, as well as the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
“We would like to express our sincere thanks to Marko Hakovirta for his outstanding contribution to the commercialisation of research results. We wish him every success in his new and demanding role. We are confident that our collaboration with him will continue successfully, albeit in a new context.”
Sonja London, chair of HIS
