Finland Travel Bureau Appoints Kirsi Paakkari as MD

Kirsi Paakkari (MSc. Econ), has been appointed Managing Director of Finland Travel Bureau (FTB), a leading Finnish travel agency. The appointment is effective 1 August 2012.

Paakkari previously headed the Customer Relationship Management business in Itella Mail Communications division. She has extensive experience in sales and marketing in hotel and telecommunications industries as well as in management consulting.

FTB’s current managing director Jaana Tammisto, who has headed FTB for four and a half years, is leaving the company on her own initiative. During her time as managing director FTB has implemented significant structural changes. The leisure business was sold to Aurinkomatkat and FTB focused solely on business travel. A year ago FTB became the exclusive representative of the globally operating American Express Business Travel chain in Finland and the Baltic countries. FTB has also sought cost efficiencies by increasing the use of automation and online-services.

“I look forward to returning to the travel business, where I started my working career more than 20 years ago,” said Paakkari. “FTB is a great Finnish brand, and it is an honor to be able to contribute to its future development. The industry turmoil is not over yet, and there will certainly be challenges in the future. I believe my versatile experience from different change projects gives me a solid foundation for leading FTB toward new growth.”

FTB, part of Finnair Group, employs 140 employees. The company operates in Finland and also in the Baltic countries through its subsidiary Estravel.

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