Lasse Lehtonen begins term as Kela’s Director General

Lasse Lehtonen began his term as Kela’s Director General at the beginning of June.

“Kela touches the lives of everyone who lives in Finland at one point or another. I consider it an honour to be able to take the helm in guiding and developing Kela’s operations into the 2030s. I approach this task with the humility it requires, but I am also very excited to get started,” says Lehtonen.

Lehtonen also notes that the rapid rate at which technology develops and the changes in the operating environment pose challenges even for an institution such as Kela. However, as Lehtonen points out, these are not just challenges but also opportunities we must be ready to grasp. In light of his experiences working for the HUS Group, Lehtonen feels that Kela could serve as an even more proactive pioneer in these times of change.

Kela’s Director General is responsible for strategic planning and operative management and development at Kela. He also brings matters before the Board and implements the Board’s decisions, in addition to submitting Kela’s rules of procedure to the Board for approval.

“Parliament enacts legislation and Kela’s duty is to implement it. However, Kela is also tasked with helping to improve and develop legislation. I would like for Kela to participate more actively in this dialogue, and I am prepared to engage in it myself,” says Lehtonen. 

Lasse Lehtonen (born 1962) joins Kela from the HUS Group where he served as the Director of Diagnostic services while also holding the position of Professor of Public Health at the University of Helsinki. Prior to that, his experience includes various management positions in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa and at pharmaceutical company Orion. Lehtonen holds doctorates in both medicine and law. He specialises in clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy.

Kela’s Parliamentary Trustees elected Lehtonen as Kela’s Director General on 29 April 2025. This is the first time Kela's Director General has been elected for a fixed term of seven years.