Dr Veikko Jääskeläinen, founder of HELBUS, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on August 9^th, 2023.

Veikko founded HELBUS in 2012 together with his son Kari Jääskeläinen. Veikko was responsible for the academic and financial management of HELBUS’ initial operations. He designed the curriculum for the first two years of the Bachelor’s degree programme and recruited teachers from around the world.

Perhaps Veikko’s most important contribution was establishing the reputation and recognition of HELBUS in the academic world.  Particularly in the early days of HELBUS, the parents of many HELBUS students had been Veikko’s students earlier in his career. Without Veikko, HELBUS would hardly have achieved the kind of credibility that a new school needs.

Before establishing HELBUS, Veikko had a long career at the Helsinki School of Economics (now Aalto University School of Business), where he held three professorships, and was Director of the International Centre and Rector. Under his leadership, the first MBA programmes in Finland were established at the school.

During his career, Veikko also worked for long periods in industry, eventually as CFO and Executive Vice President of Valmet Oy.

At HELBUS, we remember Veikko as a happy and productive colleague. He had a great ability to solve the various challenges related to setting up a private business school and was able to draw on his extensive networks. As Veikko gradually retired from his active role, he was always a very welcome guest of honour at HELBUS student orientation events and graduation ceremonies. He would easily capture his audience’s interest with stories of his international career. At the age of 85, he published a book on contract law.

Veikko enjoyed planning and implementing new things. When an idea or a new goal emerged, Veikko was eager to figure out how to achieve it and often, by the very next day, he had prepared a comprehensive written plan to make it happen.

Veikko will be laid to rest with his close family members in attendance.