Jyri Häkämies

Who is Jyri Häkämies?

Jyri Jukka Häkämies is a Finnish politician and the CEO of Confederation of Finnish Industries. He was Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs between 2011-2012, and a representative of the National Coalition Party, and the minister responsible for supervision of government enterprises with the exception of Patria, which is supervised by Jan Vapaavuori. He is also a member of the government's finance committee, a board member at YLE, the governmental supervisory board, Kotka city council and the Kymenlaakso regional board, where he is the chairman.

Häkämies was born in Karhula. He holds a Masters degree in political science. Before entering the politics, he worked as the CEO of the Kymenlaakso chambers of commerce. Häkämies is a Senior Lieutenant in the military reserve. His older brother, Kari Häkämies, has also been a member of the parliament and government. Jyri Häkämies became the Finnish Minister of Defence in 2007 in Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet. He was involved in a campaign finance controversy. His campaign received €10,000 from a company, whose representatives were later invited to a sauna evening on Ministry of Defence property, costing taxpayers €300. According to Arto Merisalo, a businessman involved, and later convicted and jailed due to misconduct in a related bankruptcy, Häkämies would participate in selection of candidates for specific campaign funding.