Sini Kivekäs to Lead Finnair’s People Function as Airline Advances Employee Experience Strategy

Sini Kivekäs to Lead Finnair’s People Function as Airline Advances Employee Experience Strategy

(IN SHORT) Finnair has appointed Sini Kivekäs as Chief People Officer and a member of its Executive Board, effective 1 June 2026. Kivekäs brings nearly 30 years of experience from the financial services sector, with senior leadership roles at Nordea and Aktia. In her most recent position, she served on Aktia’s Group Executive Committee with responsibility for group functions and HR. Finnair CEO Turkka Kuusisto said Kivekäs’s experience will support the airline’s work to strengthen employee experience as part of its wider strategy. Kivekäs said Finnair’s strategy, values and forward-looking approach strongly resonated with her, and emphasised the importance of engaged and skilled personnel in linking employee and customer experience. Her appointment adds senior people leadership expertise to Finnair as the airline continues to develop its organisation and strategic direction.

(PRESS RELEASE) VANTAA, Finland, 2026-May-21 — /Travel PR News/ — Finnair has appointed Sini Kivekäs as Chief People Officer and a member of the company’s Executive Board, with the appointment taking effect on 1 June 2026. Kivekäs joins the airline with close to three decades of experience in the financial services industry, including senior leadership roles at Nordea and Aktia.

Kivekäs, 51, holds a Master of Laws degree and most recently served as a member of Aktia’s Group Executive Committee, where she was responsible for group functions and human resources. Her background includes extensive experience in organisational leadership, people strategy, employee experience and the management of key corporate functions.

Turkka Kuusisto, CEO of Finnair, welcomed Kivekäs to the company and said her appointment comes as Finnair continues to develop employee experience as an important enabler of its strategy. He noted that Kivekäs brings strong experience and a clear understanding of how a comprehensive people plan and leading employee experience can contribute to business success.

Kivekäs said Finnair’s clear strategy, values and forward-looking approach in an increasingly changing and unpredictable world were important factors in her decision to join the company. She added that engaged and highly skilled employees are central to a company’s success, with employee experience and customer experience together forming a shared differentiating factor.

She also described joining Finnair as especially meaningful because of the airline’s role in connecting Finland with the rest of the world. Kivekäs said she feels privileged to become part of the Finnair team and looks forward to working with colleagues across the organisation as the company continues to shape its future direction.

Finnair is a network airline specialising in passenger and cargo connections between Asia, North America and Europe. The airline also operates year-round direct flights to Lapland and has been recognised by customers as the Best Airline in Northern Europe in the Skytrax Awards 15 times in succession. Finnair is a member of the oneworld alliance, and its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

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