Seppo Remes and Paul Healy Were Conferred Honorary Doctors of TSE
Independent Director Seppo Remes and Professor Paul Healy from Harvard Business School were conferred Honarary Doctors of Turku School of Economics May 31.
The academic traditions of the ceremonies represent continuity. The academic procession proceeded from Turku Concert Hall to Turku Cathedral on the 31st of May, 2013.
The University of Turku celebrated its doctors at the turn of May and June. 112 Doctors and 13 Honorary Doctors were conferred at the ceremonies on May 31.
Turku School of Economics conferred two Honarary Doctors. The Honorary Doctorate is conferred on an individual who has significantly contributed to their scientific field or who plays an influential role in economic life.
Independent Director Seppo Remes is the best known Finnish director in Russia. He serves in the governing bodies of several Russian listed companies. Remes says that unlike in Finland, in Russia it is typical that board members have specialised. Remes himself often works with risk management and is the chairman of several audit committees.
In Russia, Remes has been named independent board member of the year several times. What does it take to make it in Russia?
- To start with, you have to be flexible. One can’t play by one’s own rules. Secondly, you have to be consistent, even more so than in Finland. It can come as a surprise that the talking at board meetings is straighter than in Finland, Remes says.
Seppo Remes sharpening his sword of science.
Corruption Affects MNC’s
Professor Paul Healy from Harvard Business School has influenced in a revolutionary manner on where and how the financial statement reports of companies are used. He is acknowledged for his ability to join theory and practice in a constructive dialogue.
- In business sciences it is very important to be close to the businesses in order to really understand what they do. This enables staying in the game - innovations are often born in companies.
At the moment, Healy does research on how corruption affects multinational companies.
- Corruption is a big problem. According to the World Bank, over a billion dollars go to corruption in a year. This has been seen as an impediment of economic growth. Unfortunately, corruption emanates in countries, which least can afford it.
According to Healy’s research, companies that pay when asked to, do get more business in corrupted countries but tend to be less profitable.
- Others believe that in some countries you have to pay in order to do business. Some say that if you persistently keep saying no, those who ask you to pay will finally leave you alone. We are trying to find out why this is so, Healy says.
Paul Healy was conferred an Honorary Doctor on the 31st of May.
Text: Taru Suhonen
Photographs: Hanna Oksanen