Risto Nieminen
President and CEO Veikkaus (Finland Lottery)
INTERNATIONAL GAMING ORGANIZATIONS
2004- World Lottery Association, Member of the Board
2006- World Lottery Association, Vice-president
2003- World Lottery Association, Strategic Development Committee, Chairman
2001- European Football Pool, Member of the Board
2007- European Football Pool, President
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
2001- Council of Savonlinna Opera Festival, Member
2007- Council of Nordea Bank, Member
2005- Innoka (joint venture of Veikkaus and GTech), Member of Board
2005- Finnish Sport Institute, Member of Board
2002-2008 Tapiola Insurance Corporation, Member of Council
2005- Council of Sibelius Academy, Member
2004- Helsinki University Science Foundation, Member of Council
Risto has had an outstanding career in Veikkaus. First in charge of communications, Veikkaus was rated number one of all Finnish companies in communication strategy and operations. Later, as member of the Board of Managers, Risto had a leading role in building new company strategy including entering the Internet market as the first lottery in the world. After a short step in the digital television world, where Veikkaus is a co-owner of the Finnish Sports TV Channel that Risto helped to launch in summer 2001, he was elected as the CEO of Veikkaus on August 1, 2001.
When Risto started, Veikkaus was already known as a progressive company. However, since then Veikkaus has renewed it's strategy, organization and operational models. Veikkaus' operations are strongly based on Customer strategy that now includes the largest customer database and customer programme in the country. Veikkaus has, over the past eight years, become one of the most innovative and succesful lotteries in the world.
Veikkaus and Risto have been very active in international gaming organizations and international co-operation. Member of the Executive Committee as Senior Vice President of WLA , and a former Executive Committee Member of EL , Risto has a broad experience with the international gaming markets. Veikkaus has also been very active in trying to build a new dialogue between lotteries and the European Union. Veikkaus with Risto Nieminen in charge is also hosting the next European Lottery Congress and Trade Show in Helsinki in 2011. Lastly, Risto was a top level athlete as a young man (100 meters record 10.5, javelin thrower and basket-ball player).
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