Chaired by the CEO, the Management Group is in charge of the day-to-day management of the Group's business convenes regularly to discuss issues, in accordance with the Group's quality management system. The Management Group has no official status based on the Companies Act or
Digia's Articles of Association i.e., it does not exercise authority by virtue of the Companies Act. In practice, the Management Group chaired by the CEO makes decisions on the company's day-to-day business operations, under the CEO's authority.
On a proposal submitted by the CEO, the Board of Directors confirms membership of the Management Group, typically comprising business-unit Vice Presidents and directors representing key functions.
The company's Board of Directors confirms the CEO's immediate subordinates' terms of employment, salary, remuneration, stock options and other benefits, as proposed by the CEO. Management Group members' compensation packages are tied to the Group's financial results, and their key employment terms are defined in writing.
Digia's Management Team consists following members:
Juha Varelius, b. 1963, M.B.A.
Digia's President and CEO as from the beginning of 2008. Reporting to the Board of Directors, Varelius is responsible for the company's operative business. Previously, he has served as the President and CEO of the technology company Everypoint Inc of Boston (2006-2007). He has also held managerial positions at Yahoo! and Everypoint in London (2002-2006). Moreover, he has served in various managerial positions at Sonera (1993-2002), acting in his last years there as Managing Director of Sonera Zed and a member of the Sonera Management Team.
Asko Hakonen, b. 1961, vocational qualification in business and administration
Senior Vice President, software and service products, Management Team member since 2008. Responsible for software and service products as well as their development. Previously held managerial positions at the Digia Industry and Trade division (2007-2008). Prior to joining Digia, Hakonen worked as a project and unit manager at Sentera Plc (1998-2006), where he was in charge of internet, mobile and ERP systems. Previously also held the post of project manager at Solagem Oy (1990-1997). Hakonen has worked in the IT sector since 1985.
Tommi Laitinen, b. 1968, vocational qualification in business and administration
Senior Vice President, competencies and projects, Management Team member since 2005. Laitinen is responsible for the development and management of competencies as well as project resourcing. Previously, he has served as the SVP of Digia's Telecommunication division (2007-2008) and the SVP in charge of the company's strategy and development (2005-2007). His previous positions at Digia Inc. included Vice President, Engineering (2001-2004); Director, Quality and Processes (2001-2004); and Business Unit Manager (1999-2000). Prior to that (1991-1999), he was in charge of various project and product management duties and software development duties at Econocap Engineering Oy, Teemuaho Oy, Verkonmerkki Oy and HALT Ohjelmointi Oy.
Antti Lastunen, b. 1964, vocational qualification in business and administration
Senior Vice President, sales and marketing, Management Team member since 2008. Responsible for sales and marketing operations. Previously, he has been in charge of Business Operations at SAP Nordic (2005-2008), and Large Enterprise Sales (2003-2004) and Manufacturing Industry Sales (2000-2002) at SAP Finland. Prior to that, he held positions in international customer management at SAP and Computer Associates Finland (1995-1997) and sales at Inter Marketing (1988-1994), respectively.
Kjell Lindqvist,b. 1957, M.B.A
Chief Financial Officer, Management Team member since 2005. Lindqvist is in charge of Group finances and administration. Previously, he has acted as Digia Inc.'s CFO (2000-2005). Prior to joining Digia, Lindqvist worked at KPMG (1982-2000) as Authorized Public Accountant while also being a Partner in the company. At KPMG, Lindqvist served as Authorized Public Accountant in charge of several international ICT subsidiaries and Finnish listed companies.
Mika Pälsi, born 1970, LL.M.
General Counsel, Management Team member since 2009. In charge of legal matters and stock exchange communications at the company. Trained on the bench, post-graduate LL.M studies at the Universities of Helsinki and Leicester (U.K.). Pälsi has over ten years' experience in international business law, both as an attorney and in-house counsel. Before joining Digia in 2009, Pälsi worked for Tieto Corporation, where he was in charge of providing legal counsel to one of their business units. Before moving into corporate practice, Pälsi worked as an attorney at Castrén & Snellman and as a solicitor at Allen & Gledhill Advocates & Solicitors (Singapore).