Ismo Hämäläinen has been appointed as executive director of the Finnish Ski Association ©Finnish Ski Association

Ismo Hämäläinen has been appointed as executive director of the Finnish Ski Association with the official set to take up the post on September 1.

Hämäläinen had previously worked as a cross-country skiing coach in the Finnish and German national teams from 2003 to 2009.

He has since been involved in testing and physiological training, before spending six years as the head of the training centre in Vierumäki.

Hämäläinen will be responsible for the implementation of the organisation's revised strategy.

He welcomed the opportunity to take over the job.

"As the executive director I have the great possibility to implement the new strategy of the Finnish Ski Association into the action," he said.

"I believe in co-operation and will work closely with the athletes, coaches, employees, ski clubs and partners.

"As the executive director of the Ski Association, I can take the updated strategy into practice together with athletes, coaches, union staff, clubs, and key partners."

Ismo Hämäläinen will succeed Mika Kulmala, right, who left the organisation in June ©Finnish Ski Association
Ismo Hämäläinen will succeed Mika Kulmala, right, who left the organisation in June ©Finnish Ski Association

Hämäläinen will succeed Mika Kulmala in the role following confirmation of his departure back in April.

Kulmala, who began working at the Finnish Ski Association in 2012, has been credited with guiding the national governing body through major change.

The shift saw cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined brought together as part of the same association.

It followed a period when the three Nordic disciplines were being led by separate organisations.

Under his leadership, the Finland hosted the Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti in 2017.

The organisation's President Markku Haapasalmi believes Hämäläinen's experience and skills will make him the right candidate to lead the organisation forward.

"Ismo Hämäläinen commands the big picture of snow sports in Finland," Haapasalmi said.

"His experience as the head of Vierumäki Olympic Training Centre was definitive in the evaluating process and we believe that his personality and management skills will take the association to the desired direction."

With Hämäläinen taking up the post in September, Marleena Valtasola will serve as interim executive director until the end of August.

Ten candidates were interviewed for the full time post.