Lauri Kaukonen

Lauri Kaukonen (March 3, 1902, Rantasalmi, Grand Duchy of Finland - January 8, 1975, Helsinki, Finland) was a Finnish Secretariate Counsellor, board member, business executive, teacher, lecturer, and author.^[1][2]

Lauri Kaukonen was married to Elsa Kaukonen (née Iukkanen), who was born on September 30, 1915, in Terijoki, Grand Duchy of Finland, and passed away on July 20, 2008, in Helsinki, Finland. A dedicated philanthropist, Elsa Kaukonen collected anecdotes and historical stories about the Karelian Isthmus and Terijoki region, contributing historical documentation to Finnish universities. She was also actively involved in various charitable activities.^[3]

Kaukonen had five children. His son, Pertti Kaukonen, served as Finland's Ambassador to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, Kaukonen's grandson is Jukka Aminoff, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).^[4][5]

Kaukonen studied at the Helsinki School of Economics, where he earned both his bachelor's degree in 1927 and his master's degree in 1933 in economics. During the 1920s and 1930s, pursuing a master's degree was uncommon, as it required a significant amount of independent research.^[2][6]

Kaukonen began his career at Hanke Limited Company in Vyborg, which was the second largest city in Finland after Helsinki. Vyborg thrived in culture, commerce, and industry. He then moved to the Sea Insurance Department of Pohjola Insurance Company in Helsinki before joining the Finnish Transoceanic Trading Company Limited in 1927.^[2][7]

In 1928, Kaukonen began his career as a business teacher at Rauma Maritime College. In 1930, he moved to Terijoki and joined the Terijoki Business College as a teacher. He also became a board member of the Rajaseutu Merchants' Association.^[2]

In 1932, Kaukonen moved back to Vyborg. Kaukonen worked as the actuary of the Vyborg City Council. From 1934 to 1940, he served as a board member and secretary for the city's Social, Allotment, Civil Protection, and Economic Committees. He was the chairman of the Vyborg Clerk Association from 1934 to 1940 and a board member of the Vyborg Municipal Officials' Association from 1935 to 1941. Additionally, Kaukonen taught commercial subjects at Vyborg College.^[2]

During the Winter War and until the loss of Vyborg in 1940. Kaukonen worked as a board member of the Public Welfare Committee in Vyborg. Following his family's refugee journey, he served as the head of the office of the State Gift Committee under the Ministry of Finance from 1940 to 1941. Subsequently, he worked as the deputy director of the revenue tax office of Uusimaa Province from 1941 to 1946.^[2]

In 1946, Kaukonen was elected as the director of the Dairy Mutual Insurance Company and the Dairy Professionals Pension Fund. As the director of the Dairy Professionals Pension Fund, he reformed the pension system for dairy professionals. Later, he served as a board member at both companies. Today, the companies are now known as Valio Mutual Insurance Company and Valio Pension Fund.^[2][8][9]

Kaukonen was a teacher at Helsinki Business College from 1940 to 1948. He served as a board member of the Association for Business Sciences from 1945 to 1950.^[2]

Kaukonen joined Valio, the market leader in dairy products in Finland, as an executive in 1951 and became a member of its executive team in 1956. Valio employee Artturi Ilmari Virtanen received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.^[1][2]

In 1956, Valio began exporting cheese, butter, and other dairy products to the Soviet Union. Valio's Viola Cheese quickly became a highly popular product in the Soviet market, as consumers preferred Western-quality products. Consequently, the Soviet market emerged as one of Valio's largest export markets.^[10][11][12]

Valio's main export markets during Kaukonen's tenure were the United Kingdom, West Germany, and Italy. In 1962, Midnight Sun was launched in Northern England and Scotland, quickly becoming the region's leading butter within five years. By the early 1970s, an impressive 95% of Finnish export butter was destined for the UK; however, this abruptly ceased when the UK joined the EEC in 1973.^[1]

Kaukonen was also a member of the board of the Pellervo Society, which represents Finland's cooperatives.^[2]

Kaukonen renewed the pension scheme for dairy professionals in Finland. He also enhanced accounting, cost accounting, management, and audit methods among cooperatives. Additionally, he wrote numerous articles on economics, business history, and business computing for Finland's leading newspapers, magazines, and congress publications. Kaukonen delivered lectures at the Helsinki School of Economics and Helsinki Business College, and authored several business books.^{[13][14][15][16][2]}

Kaukonen was also the founder and first chairman of The Pellervo Society's Commercial Club (Pellervon liiketaloudellinen kerho). He served as chairman of Pakastamo Limited. Additionally, Kaukonen held board positions in several companies and worked as an auditor, including board memberships at MVK and ME. He was also a member of the Dairy Science Society and the Finnish Statistical Society.^[2]

•  Finland Order of the White Rose of Finland Knight (1962)
•  Finland Secretariate Counsellor (kanslianeuvos) (1967)

In 1962, Kaukonen was granted the title of Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (FWR) by the President of Finland Urho Kekkonen. The FWR decorations are conferred upon citizens who have distinguished themselves in service to Finland.^[17]

Kaukonen received the honorary title of Secretariate Counsellor (kanslianeuvos) in recognition of his achievements and dedication to Finland's cooperatives from President Urho Kekkonen in 1967. This title is ranked sixth in Finland's protocol hierarchy and is typically awarded to prominent professors. Staff professors hold the seventh rank.^[18][19]

• Newspaper article in Finnish
• Newspaper article in Finnish