Ilkka Vanala

Ilkka Vanala Email and Phone Number

Group CEO @ IF Gnistan
Ilkka Vanala's Location
Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, Finland
Ilkka Vanala's Contact Details

Ilkka Vanala personal email

n/a
About Ilkka Vanala

Experienced Business and Marketing professional with over 20 years background of working in the entertainment, sports and telecommunications industry. Skilled in International Business and Marketing Management & Development, Brand Management and Development, Digital Services and Streaming Media, Digital Marketing, Online Sales, Retail Marketing and Business Management, Entertainment Business, Partnerships Development, Sports Business & Modern Sponsorship models and CSR. Strong business (development) and marketing expert with a deep understanding of different business dynamics and the Lean business methodology.

Ilkka Vanala's Current Company Details
IF Gnistan

If Gnistan

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Group CEO
Ilkka Vanala Work Experience Details
  • If Gnistan
    Group Chief Executive Officer
    If Gnistan Apr 2024 - Present
    Helsinki, Uusimaa, Fi
    Group CEO at IF Gnistan. Managing IF Gnistan Oy (men's and women's first teams) and Oulunkylän Tekonurmi Oy (stadium & training centre) and IF Gnistan ry (non-profit & grassroots).
  • Elisa
    Vice President, Brand & Activation
    Elisa Jul 2021 - Feb 2024
    Helsinki, Uusimaa, Fi
    Managing Elisa's Brand, Content Creation, and Marketing Activation covering Sponsorships and Events.- Elisa's Brand renewal in 2022-2023 and development & implementation of Elisa Brand Hub (see: https://brand.elisa.fi )- The second strongest Nordic brand in 2023 based on Brand Finance's annual report on the most valuable and strongest Nordic brands (brand value up 14% to EUR1.4 billion, see: https://brandirectory.com/rankings/nordic/ ).-The most Sustainable Brand in the Finnish Telecommunications Industry based on the Sustainable Brand Index 2023 (see: https://www.sb-index.com/finland)- SPOT finalist with Elisa's Fans sponsorship activation in 2023 (see: https://www.spot.fi/case/elisan-fanit-laukoivat-taysosumat-sponsoroinnille)
  • Elisa
    Head Of Marketing, Entertainment Business (Act)
    Elisa Jun 2023 - Jan 2024
    Helsinki, Uusimaa, Fi
    Acting Head of Marketing for Elisa Entertainment Business.-Transferring Elisa Original Series to Ruutu+ service and launch of the collaboration- Marketing Management for Elisa TV and book services, development and implementation of the new marcom concept, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swgl0OPkESo
  • Elisa
    Vice President, Marketing Communications And Development
    Elisa Feb 2019 - Jun 2021
    Helsinki, Uusimaa, Fi
    Managing and developing Elisa's Consumer Marketing Communications and Corporate Marketing.Member of Elisa's Communications and Corporate Business Management Teams.Some B2C highlights:- Last episodes of award-winning Saarnaajat marketing concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNjLYUVT82Y- Creation of the new marketing concept, Elisa’s Fans: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoYgvGiwgZk4AzpS7I-WpDcjFpJQS7vOnProcess owner of Elisa's marketing core processes.
  • Elisa
    Business Development Director, Entertaining Domain
    Elisa Sep 2018 - Jan 2019
    Helsinki, Uusimaa, Fi
    Worked with Kepit Systems (https://www.linkedin.com/company/kepit-systems-oy/) to grow their business internationally with selected customers and partners in Europe.Managed Fanseat.com business to open new markets and grow the business in existing ones untilthe business was sold to Spring Media.Analysed and evaluated new business and partnership opportunities in the international digital services and entertainment business Globally.
  • Elisa
    Head Of Fanseat Business, New Business Development Bu
    Elisa Dec 2016 - Aug 2018
    Helsinki, Uusimaa, Fi
    Founder and Head of Fanseat Business (www.fanseat.com), a Digital Sports Entertainment Startup at Elisa’s New Business Development Business Unit widening the successful Sport Entertainment Business from Finland to international audiences.Moving form the biggest producer of sports content in Finland to an international provider of professionally but cost-effective produced sports content.Global customer & fan-base covering partnerships and content from Albania, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Sweden and multiple sporting events from various European countries and USA.
  • Elisa
    Business Manager, Elisa Viihde Users
    Elisa Aug 2014 - Dec 2016
    Helsinki, Uusimaa, Fi
    Built and developed successfully full Sports Entertainment Business for Elisa Viihde Finland.-> Reversed the traditional Sports rights acquisition strategy from the "Premium First" to "2nd/3rd tier First" by building the Sports offering on nationally interesting and globally emerging sports.-> Became the largest producer of live sport events in Finland in one year covering widely Finnish ice hockey, basketball, floorball and football leagues and matches.-> Pioneered the implementation of crowdsourcing to match productions, commentaries and promotion, enabling large scale cost savings and revenue share to the leagues and teams.-> Had a pleasure to work with highly professional and innovative tech people, partners and subcontractors , who developed revolutionary solutions for creating, delivering and distributing live sports content to fans to watch, no matter where they are. Operational management of Elisa's Entertaining (Elisa Viihde) OTT business in Finland in 2015.
  • Etelä-Espoon Pallo Ry
    Member Of The Board
    Etelä-Espoon Pallo Ry Jan 2017 - Dec 2022
    Espoo, Uusimaa, Fi
    Fundraising, Marketing and Communications for a grassroots football club with 900+ members. Volunteer work.Some highlights from 2017-2022:- Number of licensed players from 700- to 900+.- Club pro-coaching staff from 2 to 8.- Co-op agreement with FC Honka (Premier League Club in Finland).- Launch of Club's grassroots program to support immigrants integration to the Finnish society through footbal and EsPa.- CRM and MarCom development through implementation of MyClub and digital marketing & SEM activation.
  • Forward Football Agency
    Advisor
    Forward Football Agency Oct 2018 - Dec 2021
  • Fanimo Oy
    Managing Director
    Fanimo Oy Apr 2012 - Jul 2014
    Founder of Fanimo Oy, a commercial subsidiary of the Football Association for managing and developing online and retail sales and marketing of the official fan merchandise of Finnish National teams.
  • Uefa
    Marketing Expert (Consultant)
    Uefa Feb 2012 - Jul 2014
    Nyon, Ch
    While being employed by Football Association of Finland, had a consultancy assignments from UEFA (www.UEFA.com) to facilitate European marketing workshops and support other Associations in strategy work and business & marketing development activities.- Some facilitated projects being Marketing Strategy for the Dutch Football Association and Pricing Strategy for the Danish Football Association.
  • Football Association Of Finland
    Head Of Marketing
    Football Association Of Finland Jan 2010 - Jul 2014
    Helsinki, Fi
    Managed the sales and marketing of the Football Association of Finland with P&L responsibility.Key achievements:- Creation of Digital Marketing Strategy and Building up Social Media presence (Facebook and Twitter) for National teams.- Brand strategy creation and implementation for the Finnish National teams.- Change from single match/event marketing to marketing theme campaigns.- Successful renewal of ticketing (pricing) strategy and reporting with over 20% consumer sales increase.- Significant growth in national team match attendance figures.- Highly improved sponsorship activation and partnerships development, including many CSR projects.- Development and total renewal of the streaming platform (huuhkaja.tv) for National teams and Association.- Worked as a Marketing Expert for UEFA (www.UEFA.com) to facilitate European marketing workshops and support other Associations in strategy work and business & marketing development activities.
  • Fc Tps Turku Oy
    Sales Director
    Fc Tps Turku Oy Sep 2008 - Jan 2010
    Managed the sales and marketing of FC TPS football club, focusing especially on strategy creation, brand building and development of consumer sales and customer loyalty & engagement.- Consumer sales increased by ~40% in 2009, the average # of spectators increased by 10%, being #1 in Finland.
  • Nokia
    Senior Manager, Global General Retail & Channel Management
    Nokia Mar 2008 - Aug 2008
    Espoo, Southern Finland, Fi
    The Global Program Manager for Nokia Premium Partner program, reporting to SVP Nokia Branded Retail and VP Nokia General Retail and Channel Management. A member of the Nokia Branded Retail Global Management team.
  • Nokia Multimedia Europe
    Senior Retail Business Manager
    Nokia Multimedia Europe Nov 2004 - Dec 2007
    Espoo, Southern Finland, Fi
    A member of the team of business professionals that developed Nokia Multimedia Europe from a loss-making unit to the most profitable business at Nokia between 2004 and 2007.- Developed and implemented sales channel & marketing strategy for first imaging devices (phones with a camera) in EMEA with heavy emphasize on Go-To-Market management. - Conceptualized and implemented Nokia’s new branding and a sub-category (Nseries) to retail. New Sub-category implemented to 2000+ TCS, CES, MM and operator stores in Europe, where sales was increased by 50-200% / shop.
  • Nokia Multimedia Europe
    Development Manager, Customer Care Emea
    Nokia Multimedia Europe Jan 2001 - Oct 2004
    Espoo, Southern Finland, Fi
  • Nokia Multimedia Europe
    Project Manager
    Nokia Multimedia Europe Jan 2000 - Dec 2000
    Espoo, Southern Finland, Fi
  • Triumph International, Espergaerde Denmark
    Trainee
    Triumph International, Espergaerde Denmark Jan 1999 - Sep 1999
    Bad Zurzach, Ch
  • Veljekset Halonen Oy
    Sales Associate - Part-Time
    Veljekset Halonen Oy Jan 1996 - Dec 1998
    Helsinki, Southern Finland, Fi
    Part-time job on sport department during studies.
  • Puolustusvoimat - Försvarsmakten - Finnish Defence Forces
    Military Service
    Puolustusvoimat - Försvarsmakten - Finnish Defence Forces Jan 1995 - Dec 1995
    Helsinki, Fi
    Military Rank: 2nd Lieutenant (Reserve).

Ilkka Vanala Skills

Marketing Management Product Marketing Mobile Devices Marketing Business Development Competitive Analysis Marketing Communications New Business Development Digital Marketing Project Management Marketing Strategy Team Leadership B2b Retail Marketing Business Strategy Go To Market Strategy Brand Management Sports Marketing Sales Management Social Media Marketing Streaming Media Virtual Teams Retail Sales Market Intelligence Digital Media Business Process Improvement International Marketing International Sales Retail Category Management Management Sales Program Management Strategic Partnerships Consumer Marketing B2b Marketing Retail Event Management Strategic Planning Leadership Channel Partners Corporate Branding Sponsorship Social Media Brand Development Corporate Social Responsibility Live Video Streaming Business To Business

Ilkka Vanala Education Details

  • University Of Lausanne
    University Of Lausanne
    Diploma Of Advanced Studies (Das) – Football And Sports Marketing And Communications
  • Insead
    Insead
    Storewars
  • Turku University Of Applied Sciences
    Turku University Of Applied Sciences
    Bachelor Of Business Administration - Bba

Frequently Asked Questions about Ilkka Vanala

What company does Ilkka Vanala work for?

Ilkka Vanala works for If Gnistan

What is Ilkka Vanala's role at the current company?

Ilkka Vanala's current role is Group CEO.

What is Ilkka Vanala's email address?

Ilkka Vanala's email address is il****@****anet.fi

What schools did Ilkka Vanala attend?

Ilkka Vanala attended University Of Lausanne, Insead, Turku University Of Applied Sciences.

What skills is Ilkka Vanala known for?

Ilkka Vanala has skills like Marketing Management, Product Marketing, Mobile Devices, Marketing, Business Development, Competitive Analysis, Marketing Communications, New Business Development, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Marketing Strategy, Team Leadership.

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