List of ambassadors of Finland

This is a list of current and former ambassadors from Finland. Note that some ambassadors are responsible for more than one country while others are directly accredited from Helsinki or other capital cities.

Africa Abuja (Nigeria) RepresentativeYearsStatusJaakko Lyytinen (Lagos)1963–1966AmbassadorOlavi Saikku (Lagos)1966–1969Olli Auero (Lagos)1969–1971Ensio Helaniemi (Lagos)1971–1973Erkki Hedmanson (Lagos)1973–1976Aarno Arola (Lagos)1976–1981Bo Ådahl (Lagos)1981–1985Vilho Koiranen (Lagos)1985–1989Esko Kunnamo (Lagos)1989–1992Heikki Latvanen (Lagos)1992–1995Hannu Ripatti (Lagos)1996–1998Chargé d'AffairesEero Saarikoski (Lagos)1999–2003AmbassadorAnna-Liisa Korhonen (Lagos/Abuja)2003–2007Erik Ulfstedt (Abuja)2007–2008Anneli Vuorinen (Abuja)2008–2011Riitta Korpivaara (Abuja)2011–2014Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury (Abuja)2014–2018Jyrki Pulkkinen (Abuja)2018-Incumbent

Addis Abeba (Ethiopia) RepresentativeYearsStatusAtle Asanti (Cairo1959–1962EnvoyOsmo Orkomies (Cairo1962–1965Henrik Blomstedt 1965–1969AmbassadorJoel Pekuri 1969–1971Veikko Hietanen 1972–1977 Unto Tanskanen (Nairobi)1977–1980Sakari Juuti 1977–1979Chargé d'affairesRaimo Salmi (Nairobi)1981–1983AmbassadorHannu Uusi-Videnoja 1980–1983Chargé d'affairesTom Grönberg (Nairobi)1983–1987AmbassadorEsko Jääsalo1984–1987 Chargé d'affairesErik Brehmer (Nairobi)1987–1990AmbassadorIlkka Ristimäki1987–1991 Chargé d'affairesDavid Johansson (Nairobi)1990–1995AmbassadorArvi Siirala 1990–1995Chargé d'affairesKaija Kahilainen 1991–1992Glenn Lindholm (Nairobi)1995–1998Ambassador Lauri Kangas 1994–1997 Chargé d'affaires Heli Sirve 1998–2001Lauri Kangas (Nairobi)1998–2003 Ambassador Kari Toiviainen 2001–2004 Chargé d'affairesMatti Kääriäinen (Nairobi)2003–2004 Ambassador Kirsti Aarnio 2004–2005 Chargé d'affairesKirsti Aarnio2005–2009AmbassadorLeo Olasvirta 2009–2013Sirpa Mäenpää2013–2016Helena Airaksinen2016–2020

Alger (Algeria) RepresentativeYearsStatusJussi Mäkinen1963–1968AmbassadorOlavi Saikku1969–1972Ossi Sunell1972–1975Osmo Orkomies1975–1979Osmo Kock1979–1983Pekka Malinen1983–1985Erkki Pajari1985–1987Risto Rännäli1988–1991Jan Groop (Tunis)1991–19951994–1995Roope Jussila1995–1996Chargé d'AffairesCarl-Erik Smedslund1996–1997Carl-Erik Smedslund (Tunis)1998–2002Kaija Ilander (Tunis)2003–2007 AmbassadorRisto Veltheim (Helsinki)2008–2011 Roving AmbassadorHannele Voionmaa2008–2011AmbassadorTuula Svinhufvud2015– 2019Marja Joenusva2019-Incumbent

Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) RepresentativeYearsStatusHenrik Blomstedt (Addis Abeba)1966–1969AmbassadorJoel Pekuri (Addis Abeba)1969–1971Seppo Pietinen1971–1973Martti Ahtisaari1973–1977Richard Müller1977–1980Risto Kauppi1980–1983Ilkka Ristimäki1983–1987Unto Korhonen1987–1988Kari Karanko1988–1993Ilari Rantakari1994–1997Ritva Jolkkonen1998–2002Jorma Paukku2002–2007Juhani Toivonen2007–2011Sinikka Antila2011–2015Pekka Hukka2015-Incumbent

Cairo (Egypt)

RepresentativeYearsStatusAsko Ivalo (Rome)1954–1959EnvoyAtle Asanti1959–1962AmbassadorOsmo Orkomies1962–1966Soini Palasto1966–1969Pekka Malinen1969–1974Joel Pekuri1975–1978Björn-Olof Alholm1979–1980Olli Auero1980–1984Mauri Eggert1984–1987Antti Hynninen1987–1989Elisabeth Tigerstedt-Tähtelä1990–1992Garth Castrén1992–1997Aapo Pölhö1998–2002Hannes Mäntyvaara2002–2005Hannu Halinen2005–2009Roberto Tanzi-Albi2009–2013Tuula Yrjölä2013–2016Laura Kansikas-Debraise2017-Incumbent

Lusaka (Zambia) RepresentativeYearsStatusHenrik Blomstedt (Addis Abeba)1968–1969AmbassadorJoel Pekuri (Addis Abeba)1969–1971Seppo Pietinen (Addis Abeba)1972–1973Martti Ahtisaari (Addis Abeba)1973–1976Unto Korhonen1976–1980Erik Hellqvist1980–1983Garth Castrén1984–1987Risto Rekola1987–1989Ilari Rantakari (from 1994 Dar es Salaam)1989–1993, 1994–1997Ritva Jolkkonen (Dar es Salaam)1998–2002Jorma Paukku (Dar es Salaam)2002–2007Sinikka Antila2007–2011Pertti Anttinen2011–2014Timo Olkkonen2014 –2019Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury2019-Incumbent

Maputo (Mozambique) RepresentativeYearsStatusMarkku Kauppinen2003–2007AmbassadorKari Alanko2007–2011Matti Kääriäinen2011–2013Seija Toro2013–Incumbent Finland's diplomatic relations to Mozambique was Incumbented from Dar es Salaam (1975–1999) and Pretoria (1999–2003) Embassies

Nairobi (Kenya) RepresentativeYearsStatusHenrik Blomstedt (Addis Abeba)1966–1969AmbassadorJoel Pekuri (Addis Abeba)1969–1971Veikko Hietanen (Addis Abeba)1973–1977Unto Tanskanen1977–1980Raimo Salmi1980–1983Tom Grönberg1983–1987Ilkka Ristimäki1987–1990David Johansson 1990–1995Glen Lindholm1995–1998Lauri Kangas1998–2003Matti Kääriäinen2003–2007Heli Sirve2007–2011Sofie From-Emmesberger2011–2015Tarja Fernández2015–2018Erik Lundberg 2018-Incumbent

Pretoria (South Africa) RepresentativeYearsStatusHelge von Knorring1949–1952Chargé d'AffairesArmas Yöntilä1952–1957Hans Ruben Martola1957–1964Tauno Nevalainen1964–1969Jaakko Lyytinen1969–1971Kurt Uggeldahl1971–1974Kari Härkönen1974–1977Juha Puromies1977–1980Pertti Kaukonen1980–1984Erik Hagfors1984–1988Hannu Mäntyvaara1988–1990Hannu Uusi-Videnoja1990–19911991Björn Ekblom1991–1995AmbassadorTapani Brotherus1995–2000Kirsti Lintonen2000–2005Heikki Tuunanen2005–2009Tiina Myllyntausta2009–2012Petri Salo2012–2016Kari Alanko2016-Incumbent

Rabat (Morocco) RepresentativeYearsStatusAntti Rytövuori2007–2011AmbassadorChristina Harttila2011–2015Anne Vasara2015–Incumbent Finland's diplomatic relations to Morocco was Incumbented from Rome (1959–1961), Algeries (1963–1968), Vienna (1968–1970), Madrid (1970–1990), Lisbon (1992–2007) embassies

Tunis (Tunisia) RepresentativeYearsStatusAsko Ivalo (Rome)1959–1961EnvoyT. O. Vahervuori (Rome)1961–1964Jussi Mäkinen (Algiers)1964–1968AmbassadorOlavi Saikku (Algiers)1969–1972Ossi Sunell (Algiers)1972–1975Osmo Orkomies (Algiers)1975–1979Osmo Kock (Algiers)1980–1983Pekka Malinen (Algiers)1983–1985Erkki Pajari (Algiers)1985–1987Risto Rännäli (Algiers)1988–1991Jan Groop (Algiers, from 1994 Tunis)1991–1995Roope Jussila1995–1996Chargé d'AffairesCarl-Erik Smedslund1996–19981998–2002Kaija Ilander2003–2007AmbassadorLaura Reinilä2007–2010Tiina Jortikka-Laitinen2010–2013Tanja Jääskeläinen2013–2017 Leena Gardemeister2017-Incumbent

Windhoek (Namibia) RepresentativeYearsStatusLauri Kangas1990Chargé d'AffairesKirsti Lintonen1990–1994AmbassadorYrjö Karinen1994–1998Kari Karanko1998–2000Sinikka Antila2001–2003Chargé d'AffairesKirsti Lintonen (Pretoria)2000–2005AmbassadorSeija Kinni-Huttunen2003–2008Chargé d'AffairesAsko Luukkainen2008–2011Heikki Tuunanen (Pretoria)2005–2010AmbassadorTiina Myllyntausta (Windhoek/Pretoria)2010–2011 Anne Saloranta2011–2014Chargé d'Affaires2014–2017Ambassador

Asia Ankara (Turkey) RepresentativeYearsStatusVäinö Tanner (Bucharest)1920–1923Chargé d'AffairesPontus Artti (Rome)1931–1934EnvoyOnni Talas (Budapest)1934–1940Aarno Yrjö-Koskinen1940–1951Asko Ivalo1951–1954Bruno Kivikoski1958–19591958–1959AmbassadorAaro Pakaslahti1959–1966Hans Ruben Martola1966–1967Åke Frey1968–1974Wilhelm Schreck1974–1976Ulf-Erik Slotte1977–1983Klaus Castrén1983–1986Mauno Castrén1986–1991Risto Kauppi1991–1995Jan Groop1995–1997Björn Ekblom1998–2000Garth Castrén2000–2004Maria Serenius2004–2008Kirsti Eskeinen2008–2012Nina Vaskunlahti2012–2016Päivi Kairamo2016–2019 Ari Mäki2019–2023 Pirkko Hämäläinen2023–Incumbent

Astana (Kazakhstan) RepresentativeYearsStatusAntti Koistinen1993–1996Roving AmbassadorTaisto Tolvanen1996–2000Tapio Saarela2000–2004 Marja-Liisa Kiljunen2004–2008Timo Lahelma2008–2010Mikko Kinnunen2009–2013AmbassadorIlkka Räisänen2013–2017Mikko Kivikoski2017-Incumbent

Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) RepresentativeYearsStatusCarolus Lassila (Jeddah)1975–1977AmbassadorKai Helenius (Jeddah)1977–1982Pertti Ripatti (Kuwait City)1982–1985Esko Kunnamo (Kuwait City)1985–1989Tero Lehtovaara (Kuwait City/Helsinki)1989–1991Aleksei Lahden1991–1994Chargé d'AffairesPertti Kaukonen (Kuwait City)1992–1997AmbassadorMatti Pullinen1997–2000Risto Rekola2000–2004Raimo Anttola2004–2007Matti Lassila2007–2011Ilkka-Pekka Similä2011–2015Riittamaija Swan2015–Incumbent

Baghdad (Iraq) RepresentativeYearsStatusAaro Pakaslahti1959–1966EnvoyArto Tanner1967–1969Chargé d'AffairesMartti Lintulahti1969–19731973–1975AmbassadorJaakko Keto1975–1977Jan Groop1978–1981Håkan Krogius1981–1987Henry Söderholm1987–1990Arne Hartman1990–1991 The Embassy was closed during the Gulf War.

Bangkok (Thailand) RepresentativeYearsStatusGustaf Ramstedt (Tokyo)1919–1929Chargé d'AffairesHugo Valvanne (New Delhi)1954–1956EnvoyAaro Pakaslahti (New Delhi)1958–1959Sigurd von Numers (New Delhi)1959–1961 Veli Helenius (New Delhi) 1961–1964AmbassadorAsko Ivalo (New Delhi)1964–1968Fredrik Schreck (New Delhi)1968–1974Matti Cawén (Jakarta)1975–1977Tuure Mentula (Jakarta)1977–1982Klaus Snellman1983–1984Pasi Rutanen1984–1986Benjamin Bassin1986–1990Eero Salovaara1990–1995Tauno Kääriä1995–2000Heikki Tuunanen2000–2005Lars Backström2005–2009Sirpa Mäenpää2009–2013Kirsti Westphalen2013–2016 Satu Suikkari-Kleven2016–Incumbent

Beirut (Lebanon) RepresentativeYearsStatusBruno Kivikoski Envoy (Ankara) 1954–1958Atle AsantiEnvoy (Cairo) 1959–1962Osmo Orkomies Ambassador (Cairo) 1962–1966Soini Palasto 1966– 1968Carolus Lassila Ambassador 1968–1974Heikki Kalha 1974Arto Tanner 1977–1981Veikko Hietanen 1981–1984Jyrki Aimonen Ambassador (Damascus) 1985Juhani MuhonenArto Kurittu1991–1995Heikki Latvanen 1996–2001Antti Koistinen 2001–2005Pertti Harvola 2005–2008Harri Mäki-Reinikka Ambassador (Damascus- Beirut) 2008–2012Kari Kahiluoto 2013–2014Matti Lassila Ambassador 2015–2018Tarja Fernández 2018–incumbent

Canberra (Australia) RepresentativeYearsStatusPaavo Simelius (Sydney)1949–1958Chargé d'AffairesToivo Kala (Sydney)1958–1963Olavi Wanne (Sydney)1963–1968Tuure Mentula1969–1975AmbassadorÅke Backström1975–1980Veikko Huttunen1980–1983Osmo Lares1983–1987Ulf-Erik Slotte1987–1991Charles Murto1991–1996Esko Hamilo1996–2001Anneli Puura-Märkälä2001–2005Glen Lindholm2005–2009Maija Lähteenmäki2010–2012Pasi Patokallio2013–2016Lars Backström2016–2020Satu Mattila-Budich2020–

Damascus (Syria) RepresentativeYearsStatusBruno Kivikoski (Ankara)1954–1958EnvoyAsko Ivalo (Rome)1958–1959AmbassadorSoini Palasto (Cairo)1966–1969Pekka Malinen (Cairo)1969–1974Joel Pekuri (Cairo)1975–1978Arto Tanner (Beirut)1979–1981Veikko Hietanen (Beirut)1981–1984Jyrki Aimonen1984–1988Juhani Muhonen1988–1991Arto Kurittu1991–1995Heikki Latvanen1996–2001Antti Koistinen2001–2005Pertti Harvola2005–2008Harri Mäki-Reinikka (Beirut)2008–2012Kari Kahiluoto (Beirut)2012–2015Matti Lassila (Beirut) 2015 –2018Chargé d'affairesTarja Fernández (Beirut) 2018-Incumbent Ambassador

Beijing Republic of China RepresentativeYearsStatusG. J. Ramstedt (Tokyo)1919–1929Chargé d'AffairesKarl Gustaf Wähämäki (Shanghai)1930–1931Helge von Knorring (Shanghai)1931–1932Hugo Valvanne (Tokyo)1936–1939EnvoyHarald Tanner (Shanghai)1939–1945Chargé d'Affaires

People's Republic of China RepresentativeYearsStatusHugo Valvanne (New Delhi)1950–1952EnvoyHelge von Knorring1952–1953Cay Sundström1953–1954Cay Sundström1954–1959AmbassadorHugo Valvanne1959–1961Joel Toivola1961–1967Veli Helenius1967–1974Martti Salomies1974–1976Pentti Suomela1976–1984Risto Hyvärinen1984–1989Arto Mansala1989–1992Ilkka Ristimäki1992–1997Pasi Rutanen1997–2001Benjamin Bassin2001–2005Antti Kuosmanen2005–2009Lars Backström2009–2013Jari Gustafsson2013–2015Marja Rislakki2015–2017Jarno Syrjälä2017-2021Leena-Kaisa Mikkola2021-2024

Hanoi (Vietnam) RepresentativeYearsStatusVeli Helenius (Beijing)1973–1974AmbassadorUnto Tanskanen1974–1977Mauri Eggert1977–1980Unto Korhonen1980–1983Esko Lipponen1983–1986Eero Saarikoski1986–1987Elisabeth Tigerstedt-Tähtelä1988–1989Esko Lipponen1990–1991Kai Granholm1991–1996Juha Puromies1996–2001Kari Alanko2002–2007Pekka Hyvönen2007–2011Kimmo Lähdevirta2011–2015Ilkka-Pekka Similä2015–2017Kari Kahiluoto2017-Incumbent

Islamabad (Pakistan)