Pekka Saavalainen

Area of Expertise:

• Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy

Professional Experience:

I have over 20 years of international experience in leadership, operational management and advisory services in both private companies and public sector organizations in Europe, Asia, East Africa and the Pacific.

The following highlights my experience:

- As Managing Director & COO of IDLO (www.idlo.int)
* transformed an intergovernmental organization to work along RBM principles * significantly boosted funding base
* developed and lead judicial reform programs worldwide

• As MD at Capgemini grew and ITC professional service business by 50% & turned to profit
(clients: leading telecom operators in Finland)

- As Advisor (select references)

* built a professional skills education institute in Central Asia
* trained a key group of bank trainers
* trained Bulgarian judges in professional training skills
* transformed companies in Latvia to enter new markets (new strategies)
* developed the business advisory skills of SME consultants in Latvia
* through training & coaching supported SMEs in Africa and Asia develop products and enter markets in EU (various industries)
• Integrated a large pharmaceutical business in 3 countries into one
* designed strategy for medical equipment firm to enter market globally
* restarted a globally operating engineering company (in the energy sector)
* helped a leading global consumer finance company design a market entry strategy
* designed global strategy for the large projects business of a leading Nordic construction company
* designed strategy for a leading IP house
* turn-around managed a loss-making country operation into profit