Happy to see this kind of news. Unhappy about the fact how slow and painful process it has been to get rid of the previous municipal leader of Savonlinna. In that sense I’m very inclined to agree that old ammattiliitto stuff and such topped with bureaucracy this and that is at least occasionally something that really should belong to the past.

Article in Finnish, quick rough translation:

Born in China, moved to Finland at the age of 4 – this is Savonlinna’s new Mr. Ding Ma

Ding Ma is reportedly the first foreign-born municipal leader in mainland Finland.

In February, Ding Ma37, moved from Lappeenranta to Savonlinna with his wife and three-year-old son Oliver.

At least for his wife, the move was a big deal, Ma thinks.

– The house in Lappeenranta was a family home for us. When we get the belongings and furniture in place, Savonlinna will also feel like home, but the pain of giving up is noticeable, Ma says.

Ma took office as Mayor of Savonlinna on Monday.

Mother’s studies brought his family to Finland

Ding Ma is reportedly the first foreign-born municipal leader in mainland Finland. He was born in China, but is only a Finnish citizen.

According to the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, only Åland has previously had foreign-born municipal leaders, several of whose municipal leaders were born in Sweden.

When Ma was two years old, his mother moved to Finland. She had received study scholarships from both Finland and the United States.

She chose Finland.

“In retrospect, it was a great decision,” Ma says.

At the age of four, Ma also followed her mother to Turku with his father.

Ding Ma‘s path later took him back to China, back to Finland, to work in China, and then back to Finland.

Doors open to Asia

Ma will take over as Mayor of Savonlinna from his position as Director of Vitality in Lappeenranta, from which he has requested a year’s leave of absence.

The election as mayor is conditional because the dismissal of the former mayor of Savonlinna, Janne Laine, is still being processed by the administrative court.

Ding Ma feels he can start his job as mayor with a clean slate, without the burden of being the former mayor.

During Laine’s term in office, the mayor’s connections to Russia were a topic of discussion in Savonlinna. Helsingin Sanomat, among others, has written about the topic.

Could Ma‘s China contacts become a similar topic of discussion?

– I can’t say what others think, but I want to say that above all, it’s about risk management.

According to him, there has been systematic cooperation between authorities in the cooperation between Finland and China. He considers it important that in the future, potential cooperation projects are also confirmed with national authorities before decision-making.

Ma has work experience from, among other places, Shanghai, China, where she worked at the Finnish Consulate General, responsible for Finland’s country image in eastern China.

Ma believes that he can utilize his international background and language skills to build relationships and trust between people. He has expertise as a developer of vitality and livelihoods.

– The potential of the Savonlinna region motivated me to apply for this position. I feel like I am a trendsetter, says Ma.

Ma sees Savonlinna as having international potential, especially from the perspective of tourism, education and the business world.

He believes that he can act as an opener of doors in the tourism sector in Savonlinna, for example towards Asia.

– I can connect different networks with Chinese travel agencies, cities and urban tourism promotion organizations, says Ma.

The recruitment consultant called persistently

Ma entered the race for mayor of Savonlinna midway through the selection process, thanks to a persistent recruitment consultant.

– I had to be persuaded. I took a couple of weeks to think about it, Ma says.

During the council’s presentation, Ma was given tricky tasks.

The city council chairman asked Ma to solve a Rubik’s Cube while explaining in English why slush is a better treat than hydrogen or an atom.

– That was particularly memorable. It was a fun task in every way, Ma remembers.

The city council’s proposal for the election of the mayor was unanimous, as was the council’s decision.

– I want to thank the decision-makers for their trust. From now on, I just have to live up to expectations, says Ma.

Ma introduced himself to the people of Savonlinna at the turn of the year. It was 20 degrees below zero, but people came out, welcomed Ma, and wanted to take pictures with him.

“It was heartwarming. I didn’t expect it,” Ma says.

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