{UAH} Patria reorganizes sales division following consultant’s death in Uganda

Patria reorganizes sales division following consultant's death in Uganda

By: Gerard O'Dwyer    2 hours ago

Finland's minister of economic affairs has instructed Patria's management to present a report on the death, which reportedly occurred in Kampala, Uganda. (dk_photos/Getty Images)

HELSINKI — Patria Group has moved to overhaul its core global marketing and sales functions in the wake of the death, under suspicious circumstances, of a business consultant authorized by the state defense company to negotiate new business in Uganda.

Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs, Mika Lintilä, has instructed Patria's management to present a report on the death, in Kampala, of Finnish business consultant Tuomas Teräsvuori.

The event has already resulted in the resignation of three executives, including two senior managers at Patria Land Systems, Patria's land business division.

Group CEO Olli Isotalo said management was unaware that Teräsvuori was in Uganda to represent Patria in sales talks.

"A letter, written in very general terms, was issued by a low-level sales executive to the consultant. Discussions with Uganda would have been rejected from the very start had the matter been known by senior management," Isotalo said.

The letter from Patria's sales and marketing division had authorized Teräsvuori to represent the company in arms sales talks both in Uganda and Mozambique.

Teräsvuori had traveled to Uganda to discuss a possible weapons contract with government and military officials. He was scheduled to meet with Col. Frank Kaka Bagyenda, the director general of the Internal Security Organisation, Uganda's counterintelligence agency.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

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"Even a small dog can piss on a tall building" Jim Hightower

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