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As Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations and Responsibility, Veli Sundback heads up Nokia's government and public affairs function, and Nokia initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable development and providing access and technology to emerging markets.
Moreover, Veli is dedicated to advancing Nokia's profile as a good corporate citizen and shaping the policies that allow Nokia to function as a successful business and socially responsible company.
Veli joined Nokia in 1996 after a distinguished diplomatic career spanning over 25 years. Prior to accepting his current position at Nokia, Veli held various ministry positions in Helsinki, Brussels and Geneva, including Under-Secretary of State for External Economic Relations at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 1990 to 1993, and Secretary of State at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 1993 to 1995. He was also chief negotiator for Finland's accession to the European Union.
During his years at Nokia, Veli has been instrumental in Nokia's efforts to ensure open competition and standards. He has served as a member of the Board of EICTA (the European Information and Communication Technology Industry Association), where he was well positioned to observe and influence telecom regulations.
Veli has been a member of the Group Executive Board of Nokia since 1996. He is chairman of the Supervisory Board of Nokia (Deutschland) GmbH, Board Member of Finnair, a Finnish airline company, chairman of the Finland-China Trade Association, member of the Board and its executive committee of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) and member of the Board and its executive committee and vice chairman of Technology Industries of Finland. He is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of WWF Finland.
Veli is decorated with many titles including Commander, 1st Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland, Commander, 1st Class of the Order of the Isabel Catholic, Spain, Grand Cross of the Order of Danneborg, Denmark, Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau, Netherlands, Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Republic of Italy, Grand Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit, Germany, Grand Officer of the Order of Infante dom Henrique, Portugal, and Grand Cross of the Order of Phoenix, Greece.
Veli has a Licentiate in Law from the University of Helsinki. He is a Senior Lieutenant in the Finnish army.
Veli was born on May 29, 1946, in Helsinki, Finland. He is married and has three children. In his spare time, Veli enjoys tennis, golf, fishing, reading and "trying to understand the world better." He is a great admirer of the arts and is a member of the board of the Finnish National Theatre.
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