As of November 3, Jukka Syrjä has been appointed CEO of EFC Finland Oy. Jukka joins EFC from Pietarsaari-based Beamex, where he served as Operations Director. Kristian Mäkelä, who has led EFC for the past eight years, will move to a new role within EFC’s parent company, Lagercrantz Group.
Jukka brings a strong background in the Finnish technology industry. Originally from Tampere and now living in Vaasa, he has worked in power grid design, sales, project management, factory management, and operations management. Since 2020, Jukka has served as Operations Director at Beamex. Over the past year and a half, he has been based in the United States, overseeing Beamex’s U.S. sales office and recalibration laboratory. When the CEO position opened at EFC, the opportunity to take on new, interesting challenges closer to home and family drew him back to Finland.
“I was very interested in the position from the very start of the recruitment process. What appealed to me about EFC was the combination of familiarity and new challenges: I already know the industry and the end use of the products, but now I get to step into the beginning of the supply chain. It was also an advantage that the company is well managed and in good shape. The most important factor, however, was that I was able to immediately see myself in this role”, Jukka explains.
Leading with trust, not micromanagement
Jukka has been interested in leadership since the early stages of his career. In leadership, Jukka finds it important that people are given responsibility and that their skills and judgement are trusted.
“I don’t believe in micromanagement, nor do I direct people in their own area of expertise. At the same time, I’m always ready to support and help when needed. For me, the most important thing is that my team succeeds. I’ve learned that creating the conditions for that success is one of a leader’s most important tasks.”
In addition to leadership, Jukka’s strengths include streamlining ways of working and building functional structures for everyday business operations. He finds it particularly motivating when everyone in the company speaks the same language and works toward a shared goal.
A vision for an even more visible and distinctive EFC
During his first months, Jukka plans to familiarize himself with the operations, personnel, and needs of both EFC Finland and EFC Estonia. There are no quick moves in sight, but rather a careful assessment of the companies’ current position. In his own words, Jukka will be “asking, not telling.”
“Naturally, I do already have some vision for EFC’s future. EFC operates in a highly competitive market, so one of my main goals will be to strengthen our differentiating factors and our distinct position in the field. Customers value EFC’s customer-centric service mindset, which is something I intend to protect and continue developing. My hope is that in two to three years, EFC will be even more visible in the Vaasa region – a company and employer with a strong Finnish and Ostrobothnian identity, and one that our people can continue to be proud to work for. I am grateful to EFC for the trust placed in me.”
After eight years as CEO, Kristian Mäkelä hands over the role to Jukka with full confidence. Kristian will move to a new position within EFC’s parent company, Lagercrantz Group, and will continue to be closely involved as Chairman of the Board.
“Over these eight years, our number of employees has doubled and our turnover has nearly tripled. We have also made significant investments to enable profitable growth. I’m confident that under Jukka’s leadership, the coming years will be just as rewarding for EFC. I’m also happy to remain closely connected to the company and to continue following its journey from a front-row seat. I want to thank the entire EFC team, as well as our customers and partners, for these years – and wish Jukka every success in his new role.”
We warmly welcome Jukka to the company and wish Kristian success in his new challenges!
Jukka Syrjä
+358 40 562 8878