Management
The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service is the only blood service organisation in Finland. It is authorised and supervised by the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea, which operates under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The Blood Service is also authorised for pharmaceutical wholesale, tissue centre activities, production of cell therapy products (ATMPs) and laboratory work. The Blood Service is part of the Finnish Red Cross (FRC) and has a separate administration.
In between the FRC general assemblies and council meetings, the highest authority in matters regarding the Blood Service is vested in the Board of the FRC, which is also responsible for the activities and finances of the Blood Service. The Board of the FRC appoints the Directorate of the Blood Service.
The duties of the Directorate include, among other things, responsibility for the strategic directions of the operations and monitoring the safety and effectiveness of operational activities. The Directorate comprises a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and four other members, who together represent broad expertise in areas related to the Blood Service’s activities. The Secretary General of the organization has the right to be present and speak at Directorate meetings.
In 2025, Piia Aarnisalo served as Chairperson of the Directorate of the Blood Service, and the other members of the Directorate were Anna Maksimainen, Tarmo Martikainen, Ruut Rissanen, Juha-Petri Ruohola and Minttu Viitanen. The members of the Directorate did not receive any meeting fees.
The Chief Executive of the Blood Service, assisted by the Management Group of the Blood Service, is responsible for the implementation, operational activities and development of the Blood Service’s strategy.
Pia Westman served as The Chief Executive of the Blood Service. The Management Group of the Blood Service consisted of Johanna Castrén (blood donation), Jarkko Ihalainen (Medical services and quality management), Heikki Myllyniemi (Digital development and services), Minna Mäki (Research, product development and new services), Johanna Nystedt (blood products), Katarina Stendahl (Financial services and responsibility) and Willy Toiviainen (Communications and Human Resources).
