Kai Hietarinta

Kai Harri Hietarinta (born 25 November 1932) is a Finnish businessman and ice hockey executive. His lengthy career in the

Kai Harri Hietarinta was born on 25 November 1932, in Helsinki, Finland. He graduated from the Hanken School of Economics in 1950, then attended Helsinki University of Technology where he earned a Master of Science in Administration degree in business and economics in 1958, and a Master of Science in Information Technology degree in 1959.^[1]

Hietarinta began working in the petroleum industry at Neste in 1960, the state-owned oil refining and marketing company of Finland.^[1] Working in management positions since 1964, he became Neste's executive vice president in the 1970s, serving under president Uolevi Raade. Through business he developed a network of contacts in North America, Russia, and the Middle East.^[2] His position with Neste involved him in both the energy policy of Finland and its international trade policy.^[3] He has sat on of the board of directors of several additional companies,^[1] including the international advisory board of Dana Gas based in the United Arab Emirates.^[4]

When Finland became the Soviet Union's largest Western oil importer in 1983, Hietarinta explained by stating that "the Soviets are reliable suppliers", in light of the 1970s energy crisis.^[5] From 1980 to 1982, Soviet supply increased from 58 to 81 of Finnish oil imports. Hietarinta noted that importing oil was Finland's only means to reduce its trade surplus.^[5] Trade obligations to the Soviet Union originated with the terms of its Independence from Russia in 1917, and the Second World War reparations from the 1944 Moscow Armistice that ended the Second Soviet–Finnish War.^[5]

Hietarinta was the Finnish Ice Hockey Association (FIHA) president from 1984 to 1997,^[6] and served on the Finnish Olympic Committee from October 1984 to June 1993.^[7] He became president when the FIHA needed an outside person to resolve internal disputes.^[2] Along with his vice-president Kalervo Kummola, he used business connections to Finland's advantage for greater influence in international ice hockey.^[2]

During his presidency, Finland won its first

Hietarinta was a council member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) from 1990 to 1998.^[6] When IIHF president Günther Sabetzki retired in 1994, Hietarinta placed in an election to succeed him, losing to René Fasel of Switzerland by three votes.^[2] After retiring from the FIHA, Hietarinta was a Finnish Ice Hockey Foundation board member from 1997 to until 2015.^[9]

In 1998, Hietarinta was made an honorary life member of the IIHF,^[11] and inducted into the builder category of the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame.^[2][9] In 2025, he was the fifth Finnish person to be inducted into the builder category of the IIHF Hall of Fame.^[12] The ceremony is scheduled for the medal presentation day of the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm, on 25 May 2025.^[9]