Updated: 23 February 2024
The duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors are primarily determined in accordance with the Articles of Association and the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act.
According to the Articles of Association, the Annual General Meeting elects three to eight members to the Board of Directors of Trainers’ House. The term of the members of the Board of Directors ends at the end of the next Annual General Meeting. The Board elects a chairperson from among its members. During the term 2023–2024, there were five members.
Jari Sarasvuo has been the Chairperson of the Board since 2021. The Board’s work is organized in accordance with the Board’s rules of procedure in force at the time. The members of the Board of Directors and the shareholdings in the company are presented on page 50-51 of annual report 2023.
According to recommendation 10 of the Finnish Corporate Governance Code, the majority of board members must be independent from the company and at least two board members who are independent from the company must also be independent from the company’s significant shareholders. The company’s board consists of five members, four of whom are independent of the company’s significant shareholders and two are also independent of the company. The company therefore deviates from recommendation 10, because under half of the board members are independent of the company. The company considers that considering the company’s size and stage of development, it is justified that the number of board members is as it is now. At the same time, it is important for the company that the board has several members who are deeply familiar with the company’s business and industry. This situation has led to the fact that half of the board members elected by the general meeting are independent of the company.
Meetings
The Board convened 12 times in 2023. The attendance rate at Board meetings was 100 %.
Board remuneration
The Annual General Meeting of 2023 decided on a remuneration of EUR 4,500 per month for the Chairperson of the Board and EUR 2,500 per month for the members of the Board. There is no separate meeting fee.
Due to the company’s weakened financial outlook, the Board of Directors decided in 2023 to first restore the previous year’s remuneration level, and at the end of the year to temporarily waive the remuneration completely.
The annual general meeting confirmed five (5) members as the number of members of the board. Aarne Aktan, Jarmo Hyökyvaara, Elma Palsila and Jari Sarasvuo were re-elected as members, and Emilia Tauriainen as a new member. In the board meeting held after the annual general meeting, the Board of Directors elected Jari Sarasvuo as a chairperson of the board.
JARI SARASVUO
Chairperson of the Board. Member of the Board since 2011.
Year of birth: 1965
Essential work experience
Trainers’ House Plc, CEO, 2008–2010
Trainers’ House Plc, Chairperson of the Board, 1990-2007
Trainers’ House Plc, Entrepreneur since 1990
Entrepreneur since 1990.
Other essential positions of trust
Hannoa Oy, Chairperson of the Board 2017-
Holdings in the company: Directly and through a controlled company; 737,763 shares.
Jari Sarasvuo is not independent of the company or its significant shareholders within the meaning of the Corporate Governance Code, as he is responsible for the company’s operational marketing and owns 34.3 % of Trainers’ House Plc’s shares.
AARNE AKTAN
Member of the Board since 2006.
Year of birth: 1973
Education: B.Sc. (Econ.)
Essential work experience
Solteq, CEO 2022-
Synlab Oy, CEO 2019-2022
Pihlajalinna Oy, CEO 2016-2017
Talentum Oyj, CEO 2011-2016
Quartal Oy, CEO 1998–2011
Kauppamainos Bozell Oy, Communications Manager 1997–1998
Other essential positions of trust
Smartum Oy, Chairperson of the Board 2019-
Intera Equity Partners III Oy, Member of the Board 2016-
Great Expectations Capital Oy, Chairperson of the Board 2007-
Holdings in the company: Directly and through a controlled company; shares 60,420 shares.
A member of the Board is independent of the company and significant shareholders.
JARMO HYÖKYVAARA
Board member since 2011
Year of birth: 1965
Education: MBA
Essential work experience
The Orange Company Oy, Chairperson of the Board 2013-
Smartum Oy, Chairperson of the Board 2013-2018
Member of the Board, 1995-2009, 2011-2012
CEO 2003-2007
Other essential positions of trust
Maria 01, Chairperson of the Board 2022-
Perheyritysten liitto, Member of the board and member of the OPI-working group 2022-
Helsinki Chamber of Commerce, Education and Labor Committee 2020-
Finnish Entrepreneurs, Competence Committee 2020-
Holdings in the company: 15 000 shares through a controlled company.
A member of the Board is independent of the company and significant shareholders.
ELMA PALSILA
Member of the Board since 2020
Year of birth: 1993
Education: M.Sc. (Econ.)
Essential work experience
Trainers’ House Plc, Change Project Manager and consultant 2019-
Trustmary Finland Oy, Director of Customer Experience Research, 2017-2018
Trustmary Finland Oy, Customer Experience Specialist, 2016-2017
Pörssi ry, Training Course Coach, 2016
Holdings in the company: No holdings
Elma Palsila is not independent of the company or its significant shareholders within the meaning of the Corporate Governance Code, as she works in the company.
EMILIA TAURIAINEN
Member of the Board since 2023
Year of birth: 1996
Essential work experience
Trainers’ House Plc, Operations Director, Ignis
Various tasks in company since 2016
Holdings in the company: No holdings
Emilia Tauriainen is not independent of the company or its significant shareholders within the meaning of the Corporate Governance Code, as she works in the company.