About Ari
Prior to joining VALOR Partners at the end of 2019, Ari served as CEO and board member of OptiWatti in Finland and Sweden. Between 2008 and 2018, he was responsible for Landis+Gyr operations in the Northern Europe region. Between 2006 and 2008, he served as CEO of Infobuild Oy, the Northern Europe Agent of Information Builders Inc. Between 2002 and 2006, Ari served as President and CEO at DNA Finland, and between 1997 and 2002 he was Vice President at the Sonera Corporation, responsible for leading the unit that developed most of Sonera’s mobile and internet services. Before his work with Sonera, Ari held several global business and technology management positions at Ericsson Group companies between 1989 and 1997.
Expertise
Ari has more than 30 years’ expertise in ICT, the Energy and Real Estate business, operations and strategy management. He is an expert in project management, as well as process and productivity improvements in different industries and organizational levels. He also has long experience of international business and R&D operations in large global corporations, as well as small technology start-ups.
Examples of recent assignments:
- Non-organic growth strategy for an IT technology company
- Growth and operational strategy for a service company
- Ecosystem strategy for a high-tech company
- Advisor for an energy technology company
- Advisor for an operational and process improvement project for an IT company
Education
Master’s Degree in Real Estate Economics and Management from Helsinki University of Technology.
Outside the Office
Outside the office, Ari enjoys outdoor activities like golf and downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as renovation work, gardening, and forestry.