Stockholm (HedgeNordic) – Kari Vatanen took on his new role as Head of Asset Allocation and Alternatives at Finnish pension fund Elo on November 1, following his four-year tenure as Chief Investment Officer at Veritas Pension Insurance. In his role at Elo, Vatanen oversees the allocation and alternative investments unit, which includes currency management, trading, and responsible investment functions. He reports to Jonna Ryhänen, Elo’s Chief Investment Officer and Deputy CEO.
“We are happy to welcome Kari to Elo. Kari has extensive experience in investment markets and is also widely familiar with the earnings-related pension industry,” comments Jonna Ryhänen, CIO and Deputy CEO of Elo. “For us at Elo, good leadership is a core part of our corporate culture, and we will further strengthen this area with Kari joining our team,” says Jonna Ryhänen.
“We are happy to welcome Kari to Elo. Kari has extensive experience in investment markets and is also widely familiar with the earnings-related pension industry.”
Jonna Ryhänen, Elo’s Chief Investment Officer and Deputy CEO at Elo.
Vatanen resigned from Veritas, Finland’s smallest of four main pension insurers, in late April to join Elo this November. Under Vatanen’s reign as CIO, Veritas delivered a return of 5.6 percent in 2020, and 12.6 percent in 2021, followed by a loss of 4.5 percent in 2022, and a recovery of 5.7 percent in 2023. Following his departure, Veritas appointed Laura Wickström, formerly a portfolio manager specializing in private equity and illiquid alternatives, as permanent CIO. Wickström has been with Veritas for just over six years, following an extensive career at Finnish alternative investment manager and fund-of-hedge fund manager AIM Capital, where she served as Chief Executive Officer.
“I am grateful for the trust I have received and am excited to begin my new role.”
Kari Vatanen, Head of Asset Allocation and Alternatives at Elo.
“I am grateful for the trust I have received and am excited to begin my new role,” comments Vatanen. “I look forward to a diverse and knowledge-expanding collaboration with Elo’s experienced investment professionals and experts.”
