Time: Wed, April 27^th 2022 at 5 pm
Venue: Handelsgilletin juhlasali, Kasarminkatu 40, 2. krs., Helsinki
Lecture in English.

Sir John Stuttard has had a long association with Finland, prominent Finnish companies and Rolls-Royce-motor cars. A chartered accountant, and former Lord Mayor of London, he holds a MA in Economics.

Starting in 1983, working with the firm Salmi, Virkunnen & Helenius, he assisted Finnish companies establish operations in other countries, list their shares on overseas Stock Exchanges, acquire and sell businesses and help them prepare annual reports using best international practice. These companies included Amer, Metsäliitto, Metsä-Serla, Metso, Nokia, Nordea, Outokumpu, Pohjola, Rauma-Repola and Stora-Enso.

He was also, for many years, Chairman of the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce in the UK and is now one of its two Life Presidents. For his services to Finnish companies, he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland, as well as the Silver Medal of Helsinki. He has spent much time in Finland on business and, socially, with friends. In 1987 he completed the 78 kilometre cross-country skiing marathon, Reppu-Finlandia, from Hämeenlinna to Lahti.

In 1989 he acquired his first pre-WWII Rolls-Royce, a 1934 20/25 Barker Sports Saloon which, in 1997, he drove from Beijing to Paris in a rally lasting six weeks, travelling 16,000 kilometres across the world through rugged terrain. He has also owned other old Rolls-Royce cars and his family now has a 1921 Silver Ghost Harrison All Weather Tourer which was owned originally by the Maharaja of Porbandar.

For nine years, he was Chairman of The 20-Ghost Club, the oldest Rolls-Royce club in the world, and is now a Vice-President. In his recent book, “Pre-War Rolls-Royce Motor Cars with a Finnish connection”, he traces fascinating stories of Rolls-Royce-motor cars and their Finnish owners.

Year: 2022