SACRED LEGACY ARCHIVES™

Björn Westerlund

1912-01-27 – 2009-03-11

Photograph of three executives at Nokia Oy: Bengt Widing, Jarl Hohenthal and Björn Westerlund.Credit: AnonymousUnknown author

Life & Legacy

Björn Georg Wilhelm Westerlund, titled Vuorineuvos (27 January 1912 in Hanover, Germany – 11 March 2009 in Helsinki, Finland), was a Finnish businessman and a short-time minister in the government of Finland. He was the former and first President and CEO of Nokia Corporation that was formed in a 1967 merger between the three Finnish companies Nokia Company, Finnish Rubber Works and Kaapelitehdas (Cable Company). He was the CEO until his retirement in 1977. He remained Chairman of the Board until 1979.
He was also the Minister of Trade and Industry for a short while (19 June to 14 July 1961) in V. J. Sukselainen's second government, as a representative of Swedish People's Party.

Occupation & Career

politician, businessperson

Education

Helsinki University of Technology

Accomplishments, Inventions & Publications

Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Cross of Liberty, 4th Class; Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland; Medal of Liberty, 2nd Class; Memorial medal of the Winter War; Memorial medal of the Continuation War; Commander of the Order of Vasa; Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog; Order of Merit of the Hungarian People's Republic; Order of the Flag of the People's Republic of Hungary; Order of Merit, 4th Class

Legacy Highlights

Honors & Awards

Commander of the Order of Vasa · Cross of Liberty, 4th Class · Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland · Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland · Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog · Medal of Liberty, 2nd Class · Memorial medal of the Continuation War · Memorial medal of the Winter War · Order of Merit of the Hungarian People's Republic · Order of Merit, 4th Class · Order of the Flag of the People's Republic of Hungary