William Lehtinen

Uuno Wilhelm "William" Lehtinen (1895—1975) was a Finnish forester and business executive, most notable for his long career at the Finnish state-owned forestry and paper company Enso-Gutzeit (now part of Stora Enso), which he steered to become the largest manufacturer of paperboard in Europe.

Education Lehtinen graduated from secondary school in 1916. He obtained a degree in forestry management from the University of Helsinki in 1923, followed by postgraduate studies at Yale University, from where he graduated with a Master of Forestry in 1926.

The company's original production facilities had been located in and near the town of Enso, in eastern Finland. Following the ceding of much of Finnish Karelia to the Soviet Union at the end of the Continuation War, these facilities were lost, and the company had to invest heavily to rebuild its production capacity from scratch.

During his tenure, the company built its opulent and controversial headquarters, designed by Lehtinen's friend, architect Alvar Aalto, completed in 1962 and situated in central Helsinki in a prominent position across the street from the Presidential Palace.

Lehtinen also served in Board roles at various Finnish business and forestry trade associations and other similar organisations.

In 1964, the couple set up a charitable foundation in their name, with the aim of promoting international relations in the artistic and scientific spheres.