Marja Vest as the Communications Director of the Finnish Red Cross

Marja Vest will strengthen the Finnish Red Cross organisation with her competence and experience in communication and marketing management, digital services, media environments, change and brand management, and strategy work.

Vest has long-standing experience from a range of communication management roles. Most recently, she worked for Avidly Oy, serving as the head of communications and PR, a senior consultant and a member of the company’s executive board. Previously, Vest has held roles e.g. in Hartela-yhtiöt and Finland's Slot Machine Association.

“The Finnish Red Cross is working in a world where the situation changes every day. Natural disasters and conflicts keep happening one after another, and many humanitarian crises last for years or even decades. The Red Cross’s strength in this unstable world is its expertise, collected over 150 years, and the information that we receive straight from the field. Speed and reliability are the key in both the Red Cross’s work and in its communications,” Vest says.

“At the same time, the different forms of volunteering set challenges also for communications. Our task is to reach people where they are and invite them to join us in helping others.”

Vest started in her position on 7 April. The Finnish Red Cross sought for a communications director through an open call for applications, and received 97 applications in total.