Ahokas Moves On To Tampere

Music Export Finland chief Paulina Ahokas is quitting her post to become managing director of Tampere Hall.

In the nine years she’s headed the government-funded export agency, she’s grown it from a one-woman mission with a turnover of euro 75,000 into a 12-strong professional team that supports a euro 4 million turnover.

In that time, Ahokas has also flown the flag for a Nordic hub, a network that would link Scandinavia and The Baltics and stretch from Oslo to Moscow.

Tuomo Tähtinen, current project manager for Music Export Finland’s operations in the UK and the US, and effectively Ahokas’ “wingman,” took over as acting executive director Nov. 29.

Tähtinen is also project manager of the country’s Music & Media conference and Lost In Music showcase festival that attracted 700 delegates to Tampere Oct. 20-23 – 135 of whom came from outside Finland.

He will remain in charge until the appointment of an executive director for the new Music Finland, which is being formed from the merger of Music Export Finland and the Finnish Music Information Centre.

“If there is one thing that I am personally proud of it is my skills as a recruiter,” Ahokas said of her time at the helm of Music Export, pointing out that all of her staff have entrepreneur backgrounds, a unique drive and a love of detail.

“I know they will make me proud and happy by taking Music Export Finland and its successor Music Finland to even greater heights in the future,” she said.