Funidata
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Administration

Funidata's administration and owner and customer management models

Funidata's Board of Directors is composed of representatives of the shareholder universities and independent members appointed by the general meeting. The Board, together with the CEO, manages the company in accordance with the shareholders agreement, law and other general regulations.

Board members

  • Dr. Juhani Strömberg (Chairman of the Board, independent from the owners, since 2018)
  • Ari Hirvonen, Chief Digital Officer (University of Jyväskylä, since 2017)
  • Esa Hämäläinen, Director of Administration (University of Helsinki, since 2016)
  • Mari Ikonen, Director of Educational Services (University of Jyväskylä, since 2023)
  • Pentti Unkuri, CEO (ndependent from the owners, since 2021)
  • Jussi Välimäki, Head of Business Control (Aalto University, since 2022)
  • Ilona Ylinampa, Deputy CEO (independent from the owners, since 2024)

The Board meets approximately ten times annually, with CEO Mikko Myllys serving as its secretary.​

Commitees

The Board establishes an Audit Committee and a Remuneration Committee annually following the general meeting. Each committee consists of three Board members, one of whom acts as chairperson and reports on the committee's activities to the full Board. The CEO prepares matters for the committees and has the right to attend and speak at their meetings. Additionally, the Business Controller participates in Audit Committee meetings with the right to attend and speak.

Nomination Working Group

The general meeting has appointed a Nomination Working Group tasked with proposing the composition of the Board. All shareholders may nominate representatives to this group. The group is chaired by the representative of the largest shareholder, as decided by the general meeting; currently, this is Marjo Berglund, Quaestor.

Shareholders

  • University of Helsinki (33,78 %, joined in 2016)
  • Aalto Holding Oy (Aalto University) (18,35 %, 2016)
  • Tampere University Foundation (22,30 %, 2016 formerly University of Tampere, 2017 formerly Tampere University of Technology)
  • University of Jyväskylä (13,97 %, 2016)
  • Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT (5,00 %, 2017)
  • Hanken School of Economics (2,77 %, 2019)
  • Arcada University of Applied Sciences (3,22 %, 2021)
  • Government of Åland (Åland University of Applied Sciences) (0,61 %, 2023)

Ownership strategy

Funidata's strategic direction is guided by the ownership strategy document approved by the shareholder universities in December 2022, outlining the company's objectives through 2030. This strategy reaffirms that the company's ownership interest lies in the efficient and cost-effective management and development of essential academic administration processes, including those related to students, teaching, and administrative staff. The company does not aim to distribute profits. The strategy also states that Funidata is open to new customers and potential new university shareholders.

Excecutive Management

Supporting the CEO is the Management Team, which meets regularly and includes:

  • Mari Riihiaho, Chief Product Officer
  • Toni Sallanmaa, Chief Technology Officer
  • Jarkko Elo, Chief Commercial Officer
  • Jani Kajander, Director of People and Marketing

Management Team members report to the CEO and provide the Board with updates on their respective areas at least once a year.

Customer Group

The Funidata Customer Group meets on average five times a year and serves to represent the shareholder-customers in relation to Funidata. The group formulates shared customer positions on current topics, such as product roadmaps and medium-term development needs. Funidata takes the Customer Group’s views into account when planning its operations.

Each customer institution appoints representatives to the Customer Group from their academic administration and IT management, with a mandate from their higher education institution to take positions and form the institution’s view on matters discussed in the group.

In addition to the Customer Group, Funidata has product-specific groups for each software product, where customer admin users and Funidata experts collaboratively address operational questions related to the products.