Communication - Press
Marie-Zoé, former Vice-President of the French-Finnish Chamber of Commerce: A long-standing commitment
On 27 August, Marie-Zoé Belon-Laitinen was given the Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ansioristi - The White Rose of Finland, recognising her longstanding commitment to the Franco-Finnish community.
Marie-Zoé’s journey with Finland began in 1997, when she arrived to complete her Master’s degree in International Business. After graduating, she established herself as a business development consultant, supporting French companies in Finland and across Europe.
From the very beginning, she took an interest in the activities of the French-Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki, then led by Simon Brummer. Her professional network gradually brought her closer to the Franco-Finnish business community, notably through collaborations with the French Embassy and partners in the naval sector.
Her active involvement with the Chamber truly began in 2011, while working for the Burgundy International Chamber of Commerce. Through business missions, trade fairs and delegations, she developed close cooperation with the CCFF in Helsinki and Paris, under the presidency of Patrice Dano, as well as with Business France Finland alongside Vincent Joly, Nadine Fraysse-Eckstein and Carole Cunisset.
A growing role within the Chamber
After returning to Finland in 2015, Marie-Zoé joined the CCFF under the presidency of Thomas Alrooth, before becoming a Board member the following year. She would later serve as Vice-President of the Chamber, taking an active role in its development and professionalisation.
During this period, the Chamber strengthened its institutional relations with the French Embassy, notably under the mandates of Serge Mostura, Serge Tomasi and Agnès Cukierman, as well as with the French Foreign Trade Advisors, including Heikki Cantell.
Over the following years, Marie-Zoé became deeply involved in the development and professionalisation of the Chamber. With the support of Charles Maridor CCI France International, fellow Board members and numerous partners, the CCFF expanded its membership, strengthened its financial resources and developed new services.
This led to major initiatives such as the 2017 Finnish Business Forum in Paris and the 2019 Franco-Finnish Business Forum and Gala in Helsinki, organised with the valuable support of Kari Kivinen and bringing together prominent members of the Franco-Finnish community.
A collective journey
Marie-Zoé also highlights the people who accompanied this development over the years, including Sébastien Cailliau, Liisa Ketomäki, Julius Parikka, Michel Mercier, Panu Routila, Saara Sipilä and Martine Balzani, as well as long-standing sponsors and partners such as Konecranes, Vaisala, Wärtsilä, BNP Paribas and Thales.
Together, they helped modernise the Chamber, strengthen its communication and digital presence, develop recurring business and cultural events, and expand its activities beyond Helsinki.
The Covid crisis interrupted this momentum, as the Chamber faced the loss of members, sponsors and active volunteers and had to continue operating with significantly reduced resources.
Marie-Zoé’s years with the CCFF nevertheless reflect an important period in the Chamber’s development. From Board member to Vice-President, her involvement spanned business development, institutional relations, events, partnerships and the progressive professionalisation of the organisation.
Her story also reflects the collective nature of the Chamber itself: successive Boards, members, companies, institutions and partners working together over the years to strengthen the Franco-Finnish business community.
Today, as a new generation continues this development, Marie-Zoé’s journey remains closely connected to an important chapter in the history of the French-Finnish Chamber of Commerce.
