Sauer appointed Under-Secretary of State and Kinnunen Director General

At its session on 29 May, the Government decided on the appointment of a new Under-Secretary of State and a Director General.

The Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Kai Sauer to serve as Under-Secretary of State for foreign and security policy for a fixed term from 1 June 2019 to 31 August 2023. Sauer has worked as Finland’s Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations in New York since 2014.

In 2010–2014, he served as Head of Mission at the Embassy of Finland in Jakarta, Indonesia. At the Ministry, Sauer worked as Director of the Unit for UN and General Global Affairs in 2007–2010 and as Director of the Unit for South-Eastern Europe in 2005. He held positions at the UN also in 2003–2004 and 2006–2007.  Sauer holds a Master of Social Sciences degree. He joined the Ministry in 1995.
 

In 2010–2014, he served as Head of Mission at the Embassy of Finland in Jakarta, Indonesia. At the Ministry, Sauer worked as Director of the Unit for UN and General Global Affairs in 2007–2010 and as Director of the Unit for South-Eastern Europe in 2005. He held positions at the UN also in 2003–2004 and 2006–2007.  Sauer holds a Master of Social Sciences degree. He joined the Ministry in 1995.

 

The Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Mikko Kinnunen to serve as Director General of the Political Department for a fixed period from 1 June 2019 to 31 August 2023. Kinnunen has worked as Ambassador for countering hybrid threats since 2018. In 2013–2014, he worked as Director of Unit for the Unit for Security Policy and Crisis Management and in 2007–2008 as Director of the Unit for Civilian Crisis Management.

Kinnunen served as Head of Mission at the Embassy of Finland on Astana, Kazakhstan, from 2009 to 2013. He has also worked at the Missions of Finland in New York, Washington and Moscow. Kinnunen holds a Master of Social Sciences degree. He joined the Ministry in 1996.

Inquiries: Pirjo Tulokas, Deputy Director General for Personnel, tel. +358 295 351 413