Pia Santavirta appointed CEO of Tesi

Pia Santavirta, LL.M., has been appointed Tesi’s new CEO. She will take up her position at the latest on 1 January 2023. Tesi’s current CEO Jan Sasse will vacate his position on 24 October when he moves to a new employer. Jussi Hattula, who heads Tesi’s Growth & Industrial Investments team, will handle the CEO’s tasks during the transition period.

Pia Santavirta comes to Tesi from the Finnish Venture Capital Association (FVCA), of which she has been the Managing Director for the last six years. The Finnish Venture Capital Association has grown into the Nordic countries’ largest venture capital and private equity association under Santavirta’s leadership.

“Tesi has worked very impressively towards improving the availability of financing for startups and growth companies in Finland. It’s marvellous to be able to continue such societally important work together with Tesi’s teams of experts. In my new role I look forward also to further developing sustainability and corporate responsibility activities in collaboration with VC&PE players, startups and growth companies,” comments Pia Santavirta.

“Tesi’s mission is to enhance the operation of Finland’s venture capital and private equity market and to promote the growth and internationalisation of Finnish companies. Santavirta’s industry expertise and extensive cooperation networks, both in Finland and internationally, will contribute to achieving these goals,” comments Jacob af Forselles, Chair of Tesi’s Board of Directors.

Jan Sasse has worked at Tesi since 2015 and headed it since 2017.

“I would like to thank Jan Sasse for his work as Tesi’s CEO and as an influencer in Finland’s venture capital and private equity industry. I wish him every success in his new duties. With Jan Sasse, Tesi has played a central role in developing the Finnish venture capital and private equity market and in transforming Finland’s business community,” adds Jacob af Forselles.

Further information:

Pia Santavirta, Managing Director, Finnish Venture Capital Association (FVCA), +358 40 546 7749, pia.santavirta@paaomasijoittajat.fi
Jacob af Forselles, Board Chair. Please address contacts to: Susanna Aaltonen, Director, Communications, +358 40 40 593 4221, susanna.aaltonen@tesi.fi

Photo of Pia Santavirta

Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd) is a state-owned investment company that wants to raise Finland to the front ranks of transformative economic growth by investing in funds and directly in companies. Our investments under management total 2.4 billion euros. www.tesi.fi | @TesiFII 

Background info about Tesi:

• State-owned investment company established 1995.
• Investments under management EUR 2.4 billion.
• Tesi directly, or indirectly through funds, exerts an impact in startups and growth companies that together generate EUR 11 billion in net sales and employ over 70,000 people.