Secretary General Pekka Aula

Pekka Aula is the Secretary General of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. Previously, he served as Professor of Communication at the University of Helsinki and Professor of Innovation Communication at Lappeenranta University of Technology. Aula earned his doctoral degree from the University of Helsinki and has spent more than two decades researching reputation management, digital communication, and the impact of social media on organizations. His international experience includes research visits to the Netherlands and the United States, particularly at Stanford University.

Aula’s publications include key works in the field, such as Strategic Reputation Management: Towards a Company of Good (Routledge) and The Reputable Firm: How Digitalization of Communication Is Revolutionizing Reputation Management (Springer), which examine how digitalization reshapes organizational credibility and public perception. He has also published extensively in edited volumes and leading peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Organizational Change Management, Public Relations Review, Journal of Media Psychology, and Regional Studies.

In addition to his academic career, Aula has held several prominent administrative and advisory positions. He has served as a member of the International Science Council’s Outreach and Engagement Committee and the Steering Committee of Finland’s Team Finland Knowledge Network. Currently, he serves as Vice Chair of the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation. His contributions across both the public and private sectors reflect his expertise in navigating the complex reputational challenges of the digital age.

In recognition of his achievements, Aula was awarded the Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 2023.