The Finns are close to saying a final goodbye to their former monopoly gambling system. With the country’s planned move to a licensing-based gambling market well on the way,...
Ilkka Kosola appointed as new CFO of Veikkaus
Finland’s state-owned gambling operator, Veikkaus, has announced that Ilkka Kosola will take on the role of Chief Financial Officer and become a member of the executive management team.
At the moment, Kosola is serving as CFO at global technology company Reaktor, as he will join Veikkaus later in September 2026. He is expected to support the operator’s 2030 strategy and lead the company’s restructuring towards the partial multi-license system.
Olli Sarekoski, CEO and President at Veikkaus, commented:
“Ilkka’s broad and international experience in leading finance and IT functions, combined with his proven ability to drive change and execute strategic transactions, makes him an excellent fit for Veikkaus as we navigate this period of significant transformation. We are confident that his expertise will be a great asset to our company and our executive management team as we work towards our strategic goals for 2030.”
As a Master of Science in Economics, Kosola brings strong experience from senior financial management roles, including a CFO position at Adven Group, as well as roles in TietoEvery, Basware, and Fortum.
Kosola shared:
“I am thrilled to be joining the Veikkaus team and to have the opportunity to contribute to the next chapter of this iconic Finnish company. Veikkaus is at a pivotal point in its history, and I am eager to apply my experience to support the company’s transformation and the execution of its new strategy in the opening license market.”
The new CFO’s background includes expertise in the development of modern finance functions, artificial intelligence in finance, and international board work, with his appointment at Veikkaus being the first role in the gambling industry.
Finland has announced that it has received 50 applications from gambling operators that wish to obtain iGaming licenses ahead of the planned market launch in July 2027.
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