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Kai Hietarinta

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Kai Hietarinta
Born (1932-11-23) 23 November 1932 (age 92)
Helsinki, Finland
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • ice hockey executive
Known for
Awards

Kai Harri Hietarinta (Finnish pronunciation: [kɑi̯ ˈhɑrːi ˈhie̯rtɑrintɑ]; born 25 November 1932) is a Finnish businessman and ice hockey executive. His lengthy career in the petroleum industry as executive vice president of Neste involved him in Finland's international trade policy, and importing Soviet oil to reduce the trade surplus. Becoming the Finnish Ice Hockey Association president to resolve disputes, he used business connections to gain an advantage in international ice hockey. During his presidency, Finland increased its number of indoor ice rinks as hockey grew in popularity, and won its first international medals in men's, women's and junior hockey. He was also a Finnish Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation member, and was inducted into both the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

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Kai Harri Hietarinta was born on 25 November 1932, in Helsinki, Finland. He graduated from the Hanken School of Economics in 1950, then attended Helsinki University of Technology where he earned a Master of Science in Administration degree in business and economics in 1958, and a Master of Science in Information Technology degree in 1959.[1]

Business career

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Hietarinta began working in the petroleum industry at Neste in 1960, the state-owned oil refining and marketing company of Finland.[1] Working in management positions since 1964, he became executive vice president in the 1970s, serving under president Uolevi Raade. Through business he developed a network of contacts in North America, Russia, and the Middle East.[2] His position involved him in both the energy policy of Finland and its international trade policy.[3] He has sat on the board of directors of several additional companies,[1] including the international advisory board of Dana Gas based in the United Arab Emirates.[4]

When Finland became the Soviet Union's largest Western oil importer in 1983, Hietarinta explained by stating that "the Soviets are reliable suppliers", in light of the 1970s energy crisis.[5] From 1980 to 1982, Soviet supply increased from 58 to 81 of Finnish oil imports. Hietarinta noted that importing oil was Finland's only means to reduce its trade surplus.[5] Trade obligations to the Soviet Union originated with the terms of its Independence from Russia in 1917, and the Second World War reparations from the 1944 Moscow Armistice that ended the Second Soviet–Finnish War.[5]

Ice hockey career

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Hietarinta was the Finnish Ice Hockey Association (FIHA) president from 1984 to 1997,[6] and served on the Finnish Olympic Committee from October 1984 to June 1993.[7] He became president when the FIHA needed an outside person to resolve internal disputes.[2] Along with his vice-president Kalervo Kummola, he used business connections to Finland's advantage for greater influence in international ice hockey.[2]

During his presidency, Finland won its first Olympic ice hockey medal.[8] The men's national team won its first Winter Olympics medal with a silver medal in 1988, and its first World Championship in 1995.[8][9] The men's national junior team won gold at the 1987 World Junior Championships,[8][9] and the women's national team won four bronze medals at the first four Women's World Championships.[10] Finland increased its number of indoor ice rinks from 12 to more than 100.[9] He stated in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, that "Finnish ice hockey began to succeed when a couple of hundred rinks were built around the country in ten years", and then "the sport became the largest and most popular in Finland".[3]

Hietarinta was a council member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) from 1990 to 1998.[6] When IIHF president Günther Sabetzki retired in 1994, Hietarinta placed in an election to succeed him, losing to René Fasel of Switzerland by three votes.[2] After retiring from the FIHA, Hietarinta was a Finnish Ice Hockey Foundation board member from 1997 to until 2015.[9]

Honors and awards

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In 1998, Hietarinta was made an honorary life member of the IIHF,[11] and inducted into the builder category of the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame.[2][9] In 2025, he was the fifth Finnish person to be inducted into the builder category of the IIHF Hall of Fame.[12] The ceremony is scheduled for the medal presentation day of the 2025 IIHF World Championship on 25 May in Stockholm.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kuka kukin on 1982 [Who's Who 1982]. Helsinki, Finland: Otava. 1982. p. 223. ISBN 951-1-06659-5.
  2. ^ a b c d e "117 Hietarinta Kai". Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame (in Finnish). Tampere, Finland. 1998. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b Leppänen, Veli-Pekka (25 November 2022). "Pitkä ura suuryhtiön johtajana tarjosi näköalapaikan Suomen energia- ja kauppapolitiikkaan". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Helsinki, Finland. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  4. ^ "International Advisory Board". Dana Gas. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Liston, Roz (18 September 1983). "Business World: Finland buys Russian oil to maintain trade balance". UPI. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Lajivaikuttaja Kai Hietarinta valittiin jääkiekon kunniagalleriaan". Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). Lahti, Finland. STT. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Suomen Olympiakomitean Hallitukset 1907–2000" [Finnish Olympic Committee Boards 1907–2000] (PDF). Finnish Olympic Committee (in Finnish). Helsinki, Finland. 23 November 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2003. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "Lundqvist, Chara headline IIHF Hall of Fame Class of 2025". National Hockey League. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Podnieks, Andrew (3 January 2025). "IIHF Hall of Fame Inductees Class of 2025". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  10. ^ "All Medalists". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  11. ^ "IIHF Council". International Ice Hockey Federation. Zurich, Switzerland. 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  12. ^ Hurmerinta, Eero (3 January 2025). "IIHFn kunniagalleriaan kuusi pelaajaa ja suomalaisvaikuttaja". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Helsinki, Finland. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
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