Honorary Doctors

President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb holds a PhD in international politics. Before becoming President, he was Professor and Director of the School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. President Stubb is a former National Coalition Party MP, Member of the European Parliament, party leader and multiple minister. He has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. 

After his ministerial term, he was Vice-President of the European Investment Bank. Prior to his political career, President Stubb worked as a researcher at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Representation of Finland to the European Union and the Academy of Finland.

The University of Vaasa regards President Stubb as an exemplary international leader who, throughout his career, has drawn attention to the importance of knowledge and science in decision-making.

Katju Holkeri, Counsellor of Finance, is Head of Unit in the State Administration Development Department of the Ministry of Finance. She has become known as a promoter of transparency in various areas of administrative policy. A recent example is the “Poikkeusajan dialogit” discussion series, which created a new model for social dialogue between citizens, communities and public authorities during the exceptional time of the pandemic. 

At a national level, Holkeri has contributed to governance research by serving on the steering groups of numerous research and study projects and by being an important link between the research projects and the government. Holkeri has also supported cooperation between central government and students of administrative sciences at Finnish universities (e.g., master's theses). Shei has been a key contributor to the OECD in several roles during her career. She has also been very active at the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS).

Holkeri's interest in administrative transparency, strengthening democracy, phenomenon-based governance, systemic change and evaluation of governance fits well with the profile of administrative sciences at the University of Vaasa.

Tim Baines isProfessor of Operations Strategy and Executive Director and co-founder of the Advanced Services Group at Aston University. This cross-disciplinary centre is focused on pioneering research, community development and education on servitisation worldwide, and is jointly sponsored by industry, research councils and regional funding.

He is a leading international authority on servitisation and working hands-on with both global and local manufacturing companies to understand servitisation in practice and help to transform businesses. His book Made to Serve described as ‘Essential reading for any companies or executives looking to explore this option for their business’ provides a practical guide to servitisation based on in-depth research with leading corporations such as Xerox, Caterpillar, Alstom and MAN Truck & Bus UK.

Baines is the most cited scholar in servitisation and product-service systems and one of the leading intellectuals in the field, a field, where the University of Vaasa plays a leading role nationally. He has had significant collaboration with the Strategic Business Development research group at the University of Vaasa for many years, including two edited books on servitisation, and the Servitization Spring Conference organised by the University of Vaasa in 2023.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah is an alumna of the University of Vaasa.  She holds a master's degree in Economics and Business Administration majoring in accounting. She has a very long and distinguished career in both politics and sports. She is the Secretary-General of the Christian Democrats (Finland), and she has held positions on municipal councils, in the Finnish Parliament and in the European Parliament. She has also run for president twice. Before her political career, Essayah worked as an auditor and account manager.

In addition to her political roles, she is a board member of the International Olympic Committee and board member of the Finnish Olympic Committee. She has been actively involved in various positions within the Finnish Athletics Association. As an athlete, she achieved notable success, including being the world champion in race walking 1993 and European Champion in 1994 over 10 km.

Throughout her career she has consistently highlighted the positive aspects of University of Vaasa and has positively influenced the perception of her Alma mater. 

Iftekhar Hasan holds the title of University Professor at Fordham University and has forged a distinguished career in finance. He also serves as the E. Gerald Corrigan Chair in Finance, academic director of the Ph.D. programme and co-director of the Center for Research in Contemporary Finance at Gabelli School of Business. He also serves as a fractional faculty member at the University of Sydney, and a research fellow at the Financial Institution Center at the Wharton School and at the IWH Institute in Halle, Germany. He is the managing editor of the Journal of Financial Stability and has served as an associate editor with several other reputed academic journals.

Professor Hasan's research interests are in the areas of financial institutions, corporate finance, capital markets and emerging economies focusing on interdisciplinary questions and public policy issues. He has been involved with numerous academic research grants from different governmental, national and international science foundations and organisations in the U.S. and abroad. He has published 16 books and edited volumes and numerous peer-reviewed articles in significant academic journals.

He has had strong practical impact as a scientific advisor at the Central Bank of Finland. He is involved in joint projects with the University of Vaasa and has contributed to these with a very broad and high level of expertise.

Anne Korkiakoski, a professional board member, is an alumna of the University of Vaasa. Korkiakoski graduated in 1987 with a major in Marketing and International Trade. She has held positions such as Executive Vice President at Kone Oyj Global Marketing and Communications, Marketing and Communications Director of Elisa Oyj and CEO of Euro RSCG Nordic. She was awarded the Talouselämä Marketing Director of the Year award 2012. Korkiakoski's long list of board assignments includes Nordic Morning Group, Helsinki Marketing, Lunawood, Kalevala Koru, UN Women Finland, Kämp Group, and Lindström Oy. Korkiakoski is a highly regarded figure in the field of marketing and communications with a strong track record of influencing and engaging with corporate executives. She has delivered a number of speeches in recent years, outlining the importance and impact of marketing and communications. 

Korkiakoski has selflessly given her time and shared her expertise with her alma mater University of Vaasa. She was Vice-Chair of the University of Vaasa board for eight years. She has been a speaker at several university events and lectured at the university for almost 20 years. She has shared knowledge and greatly impacted the university’s fundraising by challenging others to donate and chairing the university’s Fundraising Committee. She has also contributed to student recruitment for business studies.

Roberto Verganti the Josefsson Family Acting Professor in Art and Innovation at the Stockholm School of Economics – House of Innovation, where he is director of the Center for Art & Innovation. Verganti is also a visiting lecturer at Harvard Business School and Co-founder of Leading’Lab at the School of Management of Politecnico di Milano. He is also an Ambassador for the European Innovation Council at the European Commission. 

His research focuses on how to create innovations loved by people, both their users and creators. He explores how leaders and organisations generate radically new visions, and make those visions come true. His book Design-Driven Innovation: Changing the Rules of Competition by Radically Innovating what Things Mean, published by Harvard Business Press, has been nominated by the Academy of Management as one of the best six management books published in 2008 and 2009.

Verganti has published extensively in many leading journals and is the recipient of many prestigious awards. He has actively co-operated with the University of Vaasa, especially in the field of user-oriented innovations. 

From our university's perspective, Jacob Wallenberg has made a significant contribution to developing the Vaasa region into the largest energy technology hub in the Nordic countries, with significant investments in companies such as ABB and Wärtsilä through his role as Chair of Investor AB.

Under his leadership, Wärtsilä made its largest ever investment in Vaasa. The new Sustainable Technology Hub plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and cooperation as a global competence centre. 

This investment in Vaasa region and the new strategic agreement between the University of Vaasa and Wärtsilä are of great significance to the University as we join forces in addressing the energy transition and moving towards a carbon-neutral society. The University of Vaasa truly values Jakob Wallenberg’s visions and efforts in helping Nordic companies, universities and research organisations to collaborate.

Johnny Åkerholm, an expert on economic policy, is an exemplary economic influencer from our university’s perspective. Throughout his long and distinguished career, he has emphasised the significance of knowledge, science and expertise, particularly in the fields of economic and financial policy. He holds a Licentiate in Social Sciences (Economics) and a Master of Science in Economics.

His career includes leadership roles at various institutions: he has led the Nordic Investment Bank and has, held important positions in the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Finland and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He has also chaired the Economic and Financial Committee of the European Union. 

Åkerholm served as Chairman of the Board of the University of Vaasa for two terms from 2014 to 2021. During this time, he led the University of Vaasa through many transformative changes, investing in research and teaching, not forgetting the university's vital role in the economic region of Vaasa.

Professor Piotr Bielaczyc, Fellow SAE, PhD, currently serves as Global Powertrain Expert and a member of the Scientific Council at BOSMAL Automotive R&D Institute Ltd in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, which is the largest vehicle and powertrain systems research and development centre in Central Europe, and as a professor at Krakow University of Technology. Previously, he held the position of Head of the Engine Research Department at this institution for over 20 years and was also Scientific Secretary. Currently he is also responsible for HORIZON Europe projects. Throughout his professional career, he has been responsible for over 500 research and development projects in the automotive and off-road transportation sectors, including both conventional and hybrid powertrains, emissions reduction and fuels development. He is a member of several working groups and committees within the United Nations and the European Commission, focusing on future emissions legislation, and is also a member of international engineering organisations such as SAE International (USA), FISITA and VERT (Switzerland).

He is Vice President of the Polish Society of Automotive Engineers (PTIM) and of the Polish Scientific Society of Combustion Engines (PTNSS).

Additionally, he is a visiting professor at several EU universities where he lectures on global trends in propulsion technology development, the future of emissions legislation and emission reduction technologies. 

He has been cooperating with Finnish companies and universities for about 30 years in many research projects, organising scientific conferences and joint publications.

He has been a long-time supporter of the University of Vaasa and an active keynote speaker in various forums. In particular, he chaired the advisory board of the Clean Propulsion Technologies project led by the University of Vaasa.

Angappa Gunasekaran is Professor of Supply Chain Management at the School of Business Administration at Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg. He has also served as Director of the school. Prior to this, he served as dean at both the School of Business and Public Administration, California State University Bakersfield and Charlton College of Business, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. He has also served as Director of the Business Innovation Research Center and chairperson of the Department of Decision and Information Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

Dr Gunasekaran is a globally recognised interdisciplinary researcher committed to integrating perspectives and methods from various disciplines to create innovative projects. He ranks as the fifth most cited researcher in the category of “Business and Management Scientists” on Research.com. He has been on the editorial boards of over 30 peer-reviewed journals and has organised several international workshops and conferences. With over 10 years of global work experience, his contributions continue to impact research projects and publications.

In the 1990s, Dr Gunasekaran worked as an associate professor at the University of Vaasa, and later he held the position of FidiPro Special Professor in emerging areas of management and information systems. He still regularly visits our university and has influenced multiple research projects and publications.

From the perspective of the University of Vaasa, Björn Rosengren, CEO of ABB, is an exemplary influencer. Throughout his long and significant career, he has led not only ABB but also Sandvik and Wärtsilä. He has also been a board member of Danfoss. His actions have greatly impacted the transformation of the Vaasa region into the largest energy technology cluster in the Nordic countries.

The university of Vaasa collaborates closely with energy cluster companies in research, product development, innovation and education. Rosengren has often visited Vaasa, inspiring stakeholders to explore new forms of collaboration. The university highly appreciates Rosengren’s contribution to this collaboration through the companies he leads. 

1st Conferment Ceremony 1988

Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa
Lecturer Heribert Picht

Doctor of Administrative Sciences honoris causa
ead of the Chancellery Jaakko Numminen

Doctor of Science (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) honoris causa
Professor George Foster
Professor Bengt Holmström
Director General Jaakko Lassila
Professor Mauri Palomäki
School Councillor Martti Ulkuniemi

2nd Conferment Ceremony 1998

Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa
Professor Joaquim Arnau
Professor Hartwig Kalverkämper

Doctor of Administrative Sciences honoris causa
Professor Brainard Guy Peter
Director General Vappu Taipale

Doctor of Science (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) honoris causa
Professor Jean-François Hennart
Group President Matti Ilmari
Professor Baruch Lev
Councillor Matti Sundberg

3rd Conferment Ceremony 2006 

Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa
Professor Pirkko Nuolijärvi
Professor emeritus Sauli Takala
Archbishop emeritus John Vikström

Doctor of Administrative Sciences honoris causa
Chief Agent Esko Aho
Professor Christopher Pollitt
Deputy State Secretary Juhani Turunen

Doctor of Science (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) honoris causa
Professor Chris Brewster
Trade Counsel Eero Lehti
Professor Robet W. Scapens

Doctor of Science (Technology) honoris causa
Professor Emeritus Pentti Malaska 
Professor Dušan Malindžák
CEO Heikki Miilumäki 

4th Conferment Ceremony 2011

Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa
Professor Grögy Jenei 
Professori emerita Merrill Swain
Minister Paula Risikko

Doctor of Science (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) honoris causa
Professor Eva Liljeblom
Professor Klaus G. Grunert
Chairman of the Board Jorma Ollilla
Director Jouko Havunen

Doctor of Science (Technology) honoris causa
Professor Paul Geladi
Professor emeritus Pertti Järvinen
CEO Mikko Niinivaara

5th Conferment Ceremony 2018

Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa
Professor Jan Engberg 

Doctor of Administrative Sciences honoris causa
Board professional Leena Niemistö 

Doctor of Science (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) honoris causa
Professor Pervez Ghauri
Professor Eric von Hippel
Professor Annamaria Lusardi
President CEO Timo Ritakallio

Doctor of Science (Technology) honoris causa
President CEO Vesa Laisi
Associate Director Clare Lavelle
Director Sirinnapa (Mui) Saranwong