New heads of mission appointed to Algiers, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile and Tunis

At the presidential session on Friday 13 March, the President of the Republic appointed the following persons to serve as heads of missions, starting from 1 September 2026: Ann-Christine Krank, Algiers; Veikko Kiljunen, Buenos Aires; Salla Sammalkivi, Santiago de Chile; and Markku Lampinen, Tunis.

Embassy of Finland in Algiers, Algeria

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Ann-Christine Krank to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Algiers, starting on 1 September 2026.

Ann-Christine Krank will transfer to the post from Finland’s Embassy in Paris, where she has served as Deputy Head of Mission since 2022. Her career in the Diplomatic Service includes posts in Strasbourg and in Finland’s Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. In addition, Krank was on exchange at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2017–2018.

At the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ann-Christine Krank has held posts including Director of Unit and Team Leader at the Department for Africa and the Middle East and Leader of the Northern Europe country team. She has also worked on EU and immigration matters at the Ministry.

Krank holds a Master of Laws degree. She joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1997.

Embassy of Finland in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Veikko Kiljunen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Buenos Aires, starting on 1 September 2026.

Veikko Kiljunen will transfer to Argentina from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where he has served as Director of the Unit for South Asia and Southeast Asia since 2024.

Kiljunen served as Director of the Unit for South Asia in 2021–2024, and he has worked as Team Leader at the Department for Europe and at the Department for Africa and the Middle East, among other positions. He has also served as Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Kiljunen has previous experience in the Diplomatic Service as Deputy Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Tehran. He has also worked at Finland’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Veikko Kiljunen holds a Master's degree in Political Science. He joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2006.

Embassy of Finland in Santiago de Chile, Chile

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Salla Sammalkivi to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Santiago de Chile, starting on 1 September 2026.

Salla Sammalkivi is currently working as Director of the Unit for Human Resources Development and Occupational Wellbeing at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Sammalkivi has previously served, among other positions, as Director of Unit and Team Leader at the Department for Development Policy and as Team Leader at the Department for Africa and the Middle East.

Her career in the Diplomatic Service includes posts in Paris, Brazil and Geneva.

Sammalkivi holds a Master of Arts degree. She joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2002.

Embassy of Finland in Tunis, Tunisia

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Markku Lampinen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Tunis, starting on 1 September 2026.

Markku Lampinen will move to Tunis from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where he is Deputy Director General of the Legal Service. He has previously worked at the Ministry as Director of Unit at the Department for Europe and as Deputy European Correspondent at the Political Department, among other positions.

His career in the Diplomatic Service includes posts in Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Warsaw.

Lampinen holds a Master of Laws degree.  Furthermore, he has attended the French National School of Administration ENA. He joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1994.

Non-resident ambassador to Papua New Guinea

At the presidential session on 13 March, the President of the Republic also appointed Ambassador Arto Haapea, Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Canberra, to represent Finland in Papua New Guinea.