Work Preference
Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Hobbies and Interests
Recommendations
Websites
Languages
Recommendations Contacts
Timeline
AccountManager
Tatu Heiskanen
Open To Work

Tatu Heiskanen

Work Preference

Job Search Status

Open to work
Desired start date: Flexible

Desired Job Title

COOCEOChief Services OfficerSales Director, Business DevelopmentIT Director

Work Type

Full TimeConsultingContract Work

Location Preference

On-SiteRemoteHybrid
Location: Finland
Open to relocation: Yes

Salary Range

€95000/yr - €200000/yr

Important To Me

Career advancementCompany CulturePersonal development programsHealthcare benefits

Summary

Experienced international business leader with over 15 years of expertise in SaaS, service business, cloud operations, and service delivery. Proven success in building and scaling operations, leading digital transformations, multicultural teams, and driving growth across global markets. Skilled in consultation, structuring organizations and operations, productizing services, developing SLA frameworks, and aligning sales, customer success, and delivery for sustainable business results. Strong communicator, networker, and partnerships builder with extensive executive team and P&L responsibility, bringing clarity and structure to complex challenges while ensuring execution and measurable impact.

Overview

33
33
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Services Officer

VividWorks Ltd
Helsinki, Finland
01.2020 - Current
  • Directed strategic and operational management of global Delivery & Services unit.
  • Implemented structured operations, recruited essential competencies, and managed key customer accounts.
  • Oversaw maintenance and continuous improvement of critical Azure cloud services for clients.
  • Supported sales efforts while leading consultations for major new accounts and projects.
  • Productized services and processes, ensuring efficient project delivery alongside customer stakeholders.
  • Developed comprehensive contractual SLA templates, defining metrics and bonus-penalty models.
  • Sourced and licensed necessary software and hardware to support operational needs.
  • Managed invoicing processes to ensure compliance with customer agreements.

Director of Process Mining & Strategy Management

QPR Software Plc
02.2017 - 01.2020
  • Led global Services & Delivery unit, overseeing all software delivery projects and AWS service maintenance.
  • Personally directed strategically significant projects to align with business objectives.
  • Planned and executed capability development and recruitment strategies to enhance team performance.
  • Managed daily operations to ensure efficiency and quality in project execution.
  • Conducted consultative software sales to identify and meet client needs.
  • Renewed delivery methodology, facilitating adoption of new technologies and practices.
  • Created service and project scope templates along with documentation for contractual agreements.
  • Contributed to technology selection, UI enhancements, and overall product design.

Multiple positions

Tecnotree Plc
08.2015 - 02.2017
  • Directed Europe business development for SaaS and cloud services, establishing a new market for Tecnotree.
  • Leveraged extensive expertise in consultation, service architecture, and project delivery to enhance service offerings.
  • Engaged with top-tier customers and partners across Europe in pre-sales and sales activities.
  • Transitioned to Services Director SaaS & Cloud Operations to focus on growing SaaS business amid strategic shifts.
  • Defined and productized emerging SaaS services, enhancing alignment with telecom digital transformation initiatives.
  • Utilized experience in service and project planning to streamline SaaS service delivery processes.
  • Developed metrics for SaaS cloud services, ensuring clarity in contractual definitions and performance expectations.
  • Maintained active involvement in pre-sales and sales efforts, collaborating with key clients throughout Europe.

Multiple positions

Paytrail Plc
10.2011 - 08.2015
  • Spearheaded product development as Director, managing SaaS cloud services delivery.
  • Directed operational and strategic management, overseeing budgeting and procurement of software and hardware.
  • Transformed a small Software Development and Service Production team into a fully capable unit for international growth.
  • Initiated migration of critical production environments to reliable enterprise-level platforms.
  • Recruited key personnel, established architecture and Q&A teams, and implemented agile software development practices.
  • Oversaw largest company investment in developing a device-independent payment platform, launching first B2C product.
  • Introduced Minimum Viable Product model to accelerate time-to-market and facilitate agile development.
  • Served on management team with P&L responsibility, later transitioned to build international partnership network.

Multiple positions

Qvantel Business Solutions
08.2008 - 10.2011
  • Led stabilization of largest customer account, generating ~70% of annual revenue, securing three-year contract extension.
  • Transitioned license-based business model to hybrid PaaS/SaaS model, enhancing deep customer relationships and increasing revenue.
  • Rebuilt Services & Delivery unit, managing procurement of software licenses and hardware for improved operations.
  • Executed transformation to blade-based server technology, boosting production performance by 400% while reducing costs by 50%.
  • Directed team of over 20 experts across Finland and India, driving innovative service delivery strategies.
  • Oversaw all customer accounts and related projects as Customer Operations Director, supporting Key Account teams.
  • Managed a 65-person organization divided into six customer account teams servicing over 2 million subscribers.
  • Actively involved in commercial negotiations, SLA document creation, and continuous sales efforts.

Business Service Centre Director

Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences
03.2006 - 08.2008
  • Led a team of six experts in delivering business consulting services to SMEs across Central Finland.
  • Provided comprehensive support in marketing, sales, financial management, product development, and regulatory compliance.
  • Collaborated with ministries, regional councils, and public authorities to ensure alignment with local initiatives.
  • Facilitated private consultation services to clients based on immediate needs and requirements.
  • Successfully prepared funding applications for various EU programs and national funding sources.
  • Streamlined project implementation processes, minimizing administrative burdens for client companies.
  • Managed sales operations, budgeting, and recruitment for the consulting unit while ensuring P&L accountability.
  • Participated as a member of the management team to drive strategic decision-making.

Project Manager

University of Jyväskylä
01.1997 - 02.2006
  • Conducted commissioned research on impacts of projects in SME development, immigration, healthcare, labor market measures, educational advancement, and gender equality.
  • Published findings in Ministry of Labour and University of Jyväskylä series.
  • Co-developed cloud data collection and analysis system (INKA), playing a key role in its implementation.
  • Served over 100 clients, primarily public education providers, municipalities, universities, and institutions.
  • Ensured continued international commercial use of INKA system.
  • Designed services and processes for sales, customer migration, onboarding, consulting, budgeting, and recruitment.
  • Financed project through annual SaaS client fees covering staff salaries and operational costs.
  • Managed comprehensive client onboarding and training initiatives to enhance user experience.

Researcher

Ministry of Labour
01.1995 - 12.1996
  • Researched impacts of SME development actions during EU structural fund period.
  • Evaluated approximately 50 projects and analyzed development of 150 companies through interviews, surveys, and financial metrics.
  • Published reports in Ministry of Labour’s EU publication series.

Researcher

University of Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä, Central Finland
01.1996 - 05.1996
  • Conducted follow-up survey on Jyväskylä – Säynätsalo municipal merger independently.
    Applied Ministry of Interior Affairs methodology for comparison with previous mergers.
    Published findings in University of Jyväskylä series to disseminate results.

Researcher (as Student)

University of Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä, Central Finland
05.1992 - 08.1992
  • Conducted research on Contingent Valuation methodology for estimating perceived monetary values of infrastructures and services.
    Applied Contingent Valuation to assess monetary value of rural road and electricity networks.

Education

Master of Social Sciences - Specialization in consumer research, organizational sociology, and small-group dynamics

University of Jyväskylä
Central Finalnd
04-1995

ITIL v. 3.0 Foundation Certificate - Information Technology

EXIN
Jyväskylä Onsite Training

Elements of Ai, University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki
Helsinki

Diploma in Product Development - Business

Aalto University
Helsinki

Sustainable Business Pioneers - Environmental Management

Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences
Jyväskylä

Skills

  • Leadership in the service industry
  • Leadership in international SaaS and cloud operations
  • Strategy execution
  • Organizational transformation
  • Technological transformation
  • Project portfolio management
  • Business consultation
  • Sales
  • Service design
  • Productization
  • Delivery excellence
  • Contract management
  • SLAs
  • Cross-functional team alignment
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Structured mindset
  • Hands-on builder's mindset
  • GDPR, EU data protection act
  • PCIDSS, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
  • Azure fundamentals
  • AWS fundamentals
  • Project management
  • Task management
  • Office 365 administration
  • Statistical software
  • Wiki and documentation tools
  • CMS systems
  • CRM systems

Hobbies and Interests

  • Running marathons
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Watching movies
  • Listening to music
  • Reading books, especially economics and economic history

Recommendations

  • Jarkko Leppälahti, CEO, +358 50 464 1083, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarkkoleppalahti
  • Heikki Pusa, Director, Global Education Services, +358 40 721 7934, https://www.linkedin.com/in/heikki-pusa-b559413/
  • Mika Parikka, CEO, +358 40 535 0159, https://www.linkedin.com/in/parikka
  • Miska Visuri, CTO, +358 40 522 6141, https://www.linkedin.com/in/miska-visuri
  • Petri Itkonen, Sales Director, +358 45 7750 2032, https://www.linkedin.com/in/petri-itkonen
  • Arto Jyrälä, Senior Data Analyst, +358 40 489 7107, https://www.linkedin.com/in/artojyrala

Websites

Languages

Finnish
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Swedish
Upper Intermediate (B2)
B2
German
Elementary (A2)
A2

Recommendations Contacts

- CEO, Jarkko Leppälahti: +358 50 464 1083 (linkedin.com/in/jarkkoleppalahti)

- Director, Global Education Services, Heikki Pusa: +358 40 721 7934 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heikki-pusa-b559413/)

- CEO, Mika Parikka: +358 40 535 0159 (linkedin.com/in/parikka)

- CTO, Miska Visuri: +358 40 522 6141 (linkedin.com/in/miska-visuri)

- Sales Director, Petri Itkonen: +358 45 7750 2032 (linkedin.com/in/petri-itkonen)

- Senior Data Analyst, Arto Jyrälä: +358 40 489 7107 (linkedin.com/in/artojyrala)

Timeline

Chief Services Officer

VividWorks Ltd
01.2020 - Current

Director of Process Mining & Strategy Management

QPR Software Plc
02.2017 - 01.2020

Multiple positions

Tecnotree Plc
08.2015 - 02.2017

Multiple positions

Paytrail Plc
10.2011 - 08.2015

Multiple positions

Qvantel Business Solutions
08.2008 - 10.2011

Business Service Centre Director

Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences
03.2006 - 08.2008

Project Manager

University of Jyväskylä
01.1997 - 02.2006

Researcher

University of Jyväskylä
01.1996 - 05.1996

Researcher

Ministry of Labour
01.1995 - 12.1996

Researcher (as Student)

University of Jyväskylä
05.1992 - 08.1992

Master of Social Sciences - Specialization in consumer research, organizational sociology, and small-group dynamics

University of Jyväskylä

ITIL v. 3.0 Foundation Certificate - Information Technology

EXIN

Elements of Ai, University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki

Diploma in Product Development - Business

Aalto University

Sustainable Business Pioneers - Environmental Management

Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences

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