Mika Anttonen

Early Life

Mika Anttonen was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1966. He spent his school years in Porvoo before returning to Helsinki. He graduated with a Master's degree in energy technology engineering from the Helsinki University of Technology in 1992. During his studies, he was recruited by the Finnish oil giant Neste, where his career in the energy sector began.

Rise to Success

Anttonen started his career as an energy trader at Neste in 1989. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the head of global oil trading. However, he left Neste and co-founded Greenergy Baltic in 1995. The company was later renamed St1, which grew to become a major player in the Scandinavian fuel market, operating gas stations and refining oil. Anttonen made his fortune in the filling station and oil refining businesses.

Key Business Strategies

St1 has focused on both traditional fossil fuel operations and investments in renewable energy. Anttonen has been instrumental in developing renewable energy sources like geothermal energy and bioethanol. He has been lobbying for laws that promote clean energy and restrict fossil fuel consumption. St1 is also involved in the development of "Power-to-X" technology to produce synthetic fuels.

Philanthropy

Anttonen supports various charitable causes, including ice hockey activities for children. He and his wife also established the Kle Kle foundation.