The University of Eastern Finland’s former Human Resources Director Jouni Kekäle has been selected as one of the three finalists of the HRO Today Human Resources Director of the Year Award. HRO Today is an international magazine in the field of human resources management. Every year, HRO Today announces several awards, with the Human Resources Director of the Year Award being among the most prestigious ones. Annual awards are presented for North America and the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) respectively. Awards are presented in different categories according to, e.g., company size.
The winners of the Human Resources Director of the Year Award were announced on 2 November at the end of an international HRO Today Forum. In the category Human Resources Director of the Year (EMEA, non-profit organisations), Jouni Kekäle was selected as one of the three finalists. Human Resources Director Sally Jackson from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK was selected as the winner. The HRO Today Forum brought together the field’s leading speakers and professionals to discuss questions and issues relating to human resources management.
In addition to being selected as a finalist, Kekäle was also recognised as a Leader of Distinction. Kekäle was the only Finnish HR director to be selected as a finalist, all categories included.
Kekäle has worked as Human Resources Director of the University of Joensuu and the University of Eastern Finland for 23 years. This August, he stepped down from his role as HR director and now serves the university in the capacity of Chief Senior Specialist, managing two EU Horizon2020 sub-projects in the field of HR management and having responsibility for salary-related matters at the university, among other things.
HRO Today identified Kekäle as a candidate in June 2021, when he was still working as Human Resources Director at the university. Later, he was selected as a finalist.
Kekäle’s most important achievements include active involvement in the negotiations to renew the Finnish universities’ salary system in 2000–2006, with Kekäle being one of the key negotiators and vice-chair. The establishment of the University of Eastern Finland, and the university merger associated with it, was also carried out during Kekäle’s time as Human Resources Director. Kekäle obtained his PhD in psychology in 1997. Throughout his career, Kekäle has conducted research into higher education institutions in an international context, and he is a published author in the field of human resources management, among other things. He is also the only Finnish editor of the 2019 book The Responsible University, authored in collaboration between 22 researchers of higher education from all over the world. The book has been downloaded 47,000 times. Kekäle has also held numerous elected positions at the university, both on national and international level.
Print-quality photo of Jouni Kekäle
For further information, please contact:
Jouni Kekäle, jouni.kekale(at)uef.fi, tel. +358 50 306 5370