Finland’s financial industry is undergoing a notable shift, as more women are being appointed to the highest executive positions. The latest announcements underscore this trend: pension insurance company Veritas has appointed Elina Fogelholm as its new CEO, while public sector pension fund giant Keva has named Maaria Kettunen as Chief Investment Officer.
Fogelholm brings extensive experience from the financial sector — she has previously served as Veritas’ Chief Investment Officer and held senior positions within the pension insurance industry. At Veritas she will now oversee pension assets of around 4.8 billion euros. Kettunen joins Keva from Aktia, where she was responsible for private equity and alternative investments. In her new role she takes responsibility for Keva’s portfolio valued at approximately 71.5 billion euros, making her position one of the most influential in Finland’s institutional investment landscape.
These appointments are part of a broader trend: women are increasingly taking top seats across Finland’s financial landscape. Earlier examples include Katja Keitaanniemi, CEO of OP Corporate Bank; Sara Mella, Nordea executive and Chair of the Board at Finance Finland; Riikka Laine-Tolonen, CEO of S-Bank; Hanna Hartikainen, CEO of Fennia; Sari Heinonen, senior executive at LähiTapiola Group; and Pia Santavirta, CEO of the Finnish Venture Capital Association.
Together, these leaders exemplify the steady rise of women to positions of power in Finland’s financial sector. The glass ceiling is no longer a barrier to top executive roles — and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Sources:
- Veritas press release: Elina Fogelholm appointed CEO of Veritas Pension Insurance Company (2025)
- Keva press release: Maaria Kettunen appointed Chief Investment Officer at Keva (2025)
