Profile: Cai-Göran Alexander Stubb, 13th President of the Republic of Finland

Profile: Cai-Göran Alexander Stubb, 13th President of the Republic of Finland

Alexander Stubb, born on 1 April 1968 in Helsinki, Finland, is the 13th President of the Republic of Finland, assuming office on 1 March 2024. His upbringing in a bilingual household shaped his fluency in both Finnish and Swedish languages.

Early Life and Education

After completing his general upper secondary school education and mandatory military service, Stubb pursued his academic journey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University in the United States in 1993. Following this, he obtained a diploma in French language and culture from Sorbonne Université in Paris in 1994. Stubb furthered his education by completing a Master of Arts (MA) degree at the College of Europe in Bruges in 1995. In 1999, he defended his doctoral dissertation in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His dissertation focused on the flexible integration of the European Union.

Career Highlights

Stubb’s career has been marked by a blend of academic pursuits, diplomatic roles, and significant political positions. He has held various roles including:

• Researcher at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU
• PhD researcher in the Academy of Finland
• Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges
• Advisor to the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi
• Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU in Brussels

Political Career

• In 2004, Stubb represented the National Coalition Party in the European elections, securing a seat in the European Parliament.
• He served as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland from April 2008 to June 2011.
• Stubb was elected to the Finnish Parliament as a representative of the National Coalition Party in April 2011.
• From June 2011 to June 2014, he held the position of Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade of Finland.
• Stubb stood for Member of the European Parliament in 2014 and was elected with the highest number of votes in Finland. However, he did not take the seat as he was elected Chairman of the National Coalition Party in June 2014.
• Subsequently, he served as Prime Minister of Finland from June 2014 to May 2015.
• Stubb also served as the Finance Minister of Finland from May 2015 to June 2016.
• His tenure as Vice-President of the European Investment Bank spanned from 2017 to 2020.

Current Role and Activities

• Since May 2020, Stubb has held the position of Director and Professor at the School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute in Florence, Italy.
• He also chaired the Board of the Crisis Management Initiative, an organization focused on conflict mediation, from 2017 until February 2024.

Language Skills

Apart from his native Finnish and Swedish, Alexander Stubb is proficient in English, French, and German, reflecting his international education and career.

Personal Life

Stubb has been married to Attorney Suzanne Innes-Stubb, a British and Finnish citizen, since 1998. They have two adult children, Emilie and Oliver, as well as two cats named Milo and Nala.

Interests and Hobbies

Stubb’s interests span a wide range of activities. He has participated in various sports including ice hockey, football, handball, and golf. He has even represented Finland in golf at the national level. Currently, his hobbies include cycling, swimming, running, skiing, and participating in triathlons.

Authorship and Contributions

As an author, Stubb has penned numerous works on international politics, the European Union, Finnish identity, and physical activity. Notably, he co-authored his autobiography “Alex” with Karo Hämäläinen in 2017. Stubb has also contributed columns to several publications such as Helsingin Sanomat, Blue Wings magazine, Apu magazine, Dagens Industri, and the Financial Times.

Honors and Awards

Throughout his career, Stubb has received several honors and awards recognizing his contributions to politics, academia, and society. Some notable accolades include:

• Officier dans l’ordre national de la Légion d’honneur, France (2018)
• Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy, Furman University, United States (2017)
• Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, Estonia (2014)
• Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (2010)
• Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum, Switzerland (2009)