Håkan Ekström is the new president of JHL

On Thursday 8 February, JHL’s Union Council assembled for an extraordinary meeting to elect a new president and chief executive officer for the union. The Union Council elected the current Interim President, Chief Executive Officer Håkan Ekström as the president.

Ekström has been managing the post after the previous President Päivi Niemi-Laine resigned and became JHL's director of public affairs in November 2023. Ekström has been in the management of the union since 2016. He has worked for the union since 1992.

– I’m grateful for the trust placed in me. This is a good basis for going forward during these challenging times. I believe that we as a union can go forward with the help of cooperation as a more unified front than before, Ekström says.

Mari Keturi becomes chief executive officer

Mari Keturi will start as the new chief executive officer. Her latest job was that of executive director at Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals JUKO. She previously worked in the service of JHL for nearly 14 years within the protection of both public and private sector contractual interests. Out of these 14 years, she was a superior and member of JHL’s extensive management group for over six years. She started her trade union career as a lawyer working for the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses SuPer in 2006.

– I want to thank the Union Council for their great confidence in my skills and abilities to act as the chief executive officer of the collective bargaining and union activities line. I will for my part do my job in such a way that the new President Håkan Ekström will get the best possible support and succeed at his difficult task, Keturi says.

Saila Ruuth will continue in her post as second chief executive officer. The elections were made for the remaining Union Council term of office, until summer 2027. The Union Council is the union’s highest executive body.

More information:

President Håkan Ekström

040 828 2865

Chief Executive Officer Mari Keturi

050 461 9315