2013 CTO of the Year has been chosen

Kenneth Ekman, CEO of a Kokkola-based chemicals company CrisolteQ, has been chosen as the 2013 Chief Technology Officer of the Year.
Technology Academy Finland (TAF),Spinverse Oy, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK and Sitra give this award in recognition of the work of a CTO who has made a significant contribution to the technical performance and growth potential of their company, is an inspiring leader and is actively involved in professional organisations and discussion on the role of technology.

This year, in contrast to previous years, the jury decided to give the award to a small start-up company. According to chairman of the jury Yrjö Neuvo, with its decision the jury also wanted to give a signal that Finland genuinely needs more technology small businesses.

“With his background in research, Kenneth Ekman represents precisely the sort of business entrepreneurship that Finland needs. CrisolteQ is actually his second company. Ekman is now running a business in a sector that will become increasingly important, namely recycling. The business is based on patented inventions, the company has grown and it is making a profit. He is a model example of how to build a new chemical industry in Finland,” states Neuvo.

Read the press release