Jorma Ollila

Jorma Ollila is a Finnish business executive renowned for transforming Nokia from a diversified industrial conglomerate into the world's leading mobile phone manufacturer. As its long-serving CEO and later Chairman, he oversaw the company's historic rise during the 1990s and 2000s. Following his tenure at Nokia, he held prestigious roles including chairman of the Shell oil major and has been a significant figure in Finnish and European corporate and advisory circles.

Early life and education

Jorma Ollila was born on 15 August 1950 in Seinäjoki, Finland. He completed his secondary education at Lauttakylän yhteiskoulu, a secondary school in Huittinen. He then pursued higher education, earning a Master of Science in Political science from the University of Helsinki in 1976. Concurrently, he studied engineering, obtaining a Master of Science in Technology degree from the Helsinki University of Technology in 1975. His academic prowess was recognized with a Fulbright Scholarship, which allowed him to study at the University of London and later earn a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics in 1978. Early in his career, he worked as an analyst at the Citibank branch in Helsinki.

Career at Nokia

Ollila joined Nokia in 1985, initially serving as Vice President of International Operations for the Nokia Mobile Phones division. He rose rapidly, becoming President of the entire mobile phones segment in 1990. In 1992, he was appointed CEO of the entire Nokia Corporation, succeeding Kari Kairamo. Under his leadership, Nokia divested its non-core businesses like Nokia Rubber and Nokia Cable to focus exclusively on telecommunications, a strategic pivot that coincided with the explosive growth of the GSM standard. As CEO, he presided over Nokia's ascent to become the global market leader in mobile phones, a position it held for over a decade, profoundly impacting the economy of Finland. He became Chairman of the Nokia Board of Directors in 1999, serving as both Chairman and CEO until 2006, when he relinquished the CEO role to Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. He remained as non-executive Chairman until stepping down in 2012.

Post-Nokia career and other roles

After Nokia, Ollila's corporate career continued at the highest levels. He served as the Chairman of the Board of directors of Royal Dutch Shell from 2006 to 2015, guiding the Anglo-Dutch multinational through a period of significant industry change. He has also held the chairmanship of the Finnish innovation fund Sitra and served on the Supervisory Board of Ford Motor Company. In the realm of European policy, he was the Chairman of the European Round Table of Industrialists and a member of the European Commission's high-level group on competitiveness. He has been an advisor to the Government of Finland on economic and strategic matters and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Helsinki.

Personal life

Jorma Ollila is married to Liisa Annikki Ollila, and the couple has three children. He is known for his reserved and analytical demeanor, a style often contrasted with more flamboyant global business leaders. A dedicated long-distance runner, he has completed several marathons. His personal interests include reading history and literature. He maintains a relatively private life despite his significant public profile in Finland and internationally.

Awards and recognition

Ollila has received numerous national and international honors for his contributions to business and industry. He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland by the President of Finland. He has also been honored with the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland. Internationally, he received the Légion d'honneur from France. He holds several honorary doctorates from institutions including the Helsinki University of Technology and the University of Helsinki. In 2005, he was named the European Businessman of the Year by *Fortune* magazine.

Category:Finnish businesspeople Category:Nokia people Category:1950 births Category:Living people