Kaj Erik Relander

Chairman of the Investment Committee

Kaj has spent much of his career in PE and venture capital focusing on technology companies. In his early career he had C level operating jobs in the telecom and software domains. He is the Chairman of the Apis Investment Committee.

Prior to that, Kaj was the Chief Investment Officer at Emirates Investment Authority, a general partner at Accel Partners and the CEO and CFO of Sonera – later part of Telia – the Nordic telecom operator.

Kaj lives in Zurich, is married with three college aged children, and enjoys skiing, hiking, sailing and golf.

Profile

Hometown

Helsinki, Finland

Currently located

Zurich, Switzerland

Languages

Finnish, Swedish, English, German

Areas of expertise

Private equity, Telecom and media, Technology platforms

Q&A

Never try to be something you are not.

Sailing and navigation – I am in control of my own destiny and once I set out to sea, I have already arrived

Genuine, intellectually curious team

Doing good can also be a great business

Prior experience

SEQ

Family investment vehicle, Founding Partner, Zurich, CH

EIA

Chief Investment Officer, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Accel Partners

General Partner, London, UK

Sonera (Telia)

CEO, Deputy CEO, CFO, Helsinki, Finland

SITRA

Director – Investments/Endowment, Helsinki, Finland

Education

Aalto University and the Wharton School (exchange program)
MBA

Aalto University
MSc (Econ.)

 

Areas of focus at Apis

Chairman of the Investment Committee

 

Boards & memberships

DU (DFM)
Telecom Operator, Member of the board, Dubai, UAE

BOOKIT.net
Board Member, Helsinki/ Dallas

SES (SESG)
Satellite operator, Member of the board, Luxembourg

Starzplay Arabia
Streaming video service in MENA, Member of the board of joint venture with Lionsgate/Starz, GE Pension Trust/State Street and SEQ, Dubai, UAE

Mubadala Development Company
SWF of the Abu Dhabi Government, Senior Independent Advisor, Member of TMT-Division Strategy Board, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Refugees United Foundation—Charity
Chairman, Copenhagen/Nairobi, Denmark/Kenya

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