59. Bob Esmeijer & Philip Aminoff – Why Finnish boards need more international expertise?

In this episode of BoardTalks, Michael Hardy interviews Bob Esmeijer, Chair of the Board of Helvar Components, and Philip Aminoff, chair and one of the owners of Helvar Merka, about the benefits and challenges of having international board members in Finnish companies. They discuss the importance of international expertise for companies with global operations, the cultural differences in boardroom dynamics between Finnish and Dutch boards, and the value of informal discussions and relationship-building outside of formal meetings. They also touch on the challenges of getting open questions in Finnish settings and the importance of commercial focus in export-driven businesses. Philip shares his family's approach to corporate governance, emphasizing the role of non-family board members in decision-making, while Bob reflects on his experiences as a foreign board member and the need for timely intervention in challenging situations.