News, 26.2.2021

New Ambassadors to Zagreb and Windhoek and a new Consul General to St Petersburg

At the presidential session on Friday 26 February, the President of the Republic appointed new Ambassadors and a new Consul General.

Kalle Kankaanpää

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Kalle Kankaanpää to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Zagreb, starting on 15 April 2021. Kankaanpää will transfer to Zagreb from the Ministry, where he has worked as Director of the Unit for Northern Europe since 2015. In the Ministry, he has worked in the Unit for Russia and held positions relating to regional cooperation. His career in the Diplomatic Service includes posts at the Finnish Embassy in Vilnius and at Finland's Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels, where he also served as national specialist at the European External Action Service (EEAS). Kankaanpää joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1998. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences.

 

Leena Viljanen

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Leena Viljanen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Windhoek, starting on 1 September 2021. Viljanen will move to Windhoek from the Asian Development Bank, where she has served as Alternate Executive Director since 2018. In 2014–2018, she served in the Ministry as Director of the Unit for South Asia. In the Diplomatic Service, she has also held posts in Jakarta and Nairobi. Viljanen joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1990. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences.

Sannamaaria Vanamo Photo: Vilhelm Sjöström

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Sannamaaria Vanamo to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Consulate General in St Petersburg, starting on 15 April 2021. Vanamo will move to St Petersburg from the Ministry where she has been Deputy Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia since 2017.  In 2014–2017, she served as Director of the Unit for Arms Control. Her career in the Diplomatic Service includes posts in Washington DC, Brussels and Moscow. Vanamo joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2000. She holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences.

 

 

Inquiries: Kirsti Pohjankukka, Director General for Human Resources, tel. +358 29 535 0038. The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format  firstname.lastname@formin.fi.