Pekka Pesonen appointed Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Today, on 25 January 2024, the Government has appointed M.Sc. (agriculture and forestry) Pekka Pesonen to the post of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for the period from 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2029. The term of the current Permanent Secretary Jaana Husu-Kallio ends on 31 January 2024.

Pekka Pesonen has served as Secretary General of Copa-Cogeca, which represents European farmers and agri-cooperatives, since 2007. He has previously worked as State Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and for the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK).

Sixteen applications were received for the post of Permanent Secretary, a position lasting five years, by the deadline.

The Permanent Secretary is the most senior official who, apart from managing, developing and supervising the activities of the Ministry and its administrative branch, coordinates them with those of other ministries and their administrative branches.

- I thank you for your trust. I will use all my energy and experience for the benefit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and its administrative branch. After a long period of work abroad, I return to Finland with great motivation to work for Finnish primary production, Pekka Pesonen says.

- In fact, the work of the European farmers' and cooperatives organisation Copa-Cogeca covered almost the entire administrative branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and now I will view the same matters from a slightly different perspective. Although olive trees or grapevines do not grow in Finland, the experience of interest representation certainly has something to offer us.

Inquiries:
Pia Nyblom, Director of Administration, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 295 162 224, pia.nyblom(at)gov.fi 
Pekka Pesonen, tel. +358 295 162 020