TEEMU MOILANEN is a place branding specialist. He has performed several international research and development projects in place branding in national -, city- and tourism resort levels. He has been nominated as the leading specialist in the field by ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Finnish Tourist Board, and is currently working as an Advisor and key author of the ’Development programme of the Nation Brand of Finland’, issued by the government of Finland. Moilanen has extensive experience in tourism destination branding and development in several countries in the world, and during more than a decade has been involved in developing strategic Master Plans of several leading tourism destinations. Moilanen is also a seasoned speaker in seminars and international conferences related to destination branding. Currently Moilanen is the Chairman of the Board and Principal Lecturer of the first and largest Master level programme of Hospitality Management in Finland, at HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences, and works as the CEO of Imagian Ltd, a consultancy company specializing in Place Branding.
SEPPO RAINISTO is recognized as a leading specialist in place marketing and branding, now chairman of Meritleader Int. His study Success Factors of Place Marketing (2003) was probably the first doctoral dissertation in the field. Rainisto advises numerous cities, regions and communities on place branding. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Place Branding and Public Diplomacy (London) and of the Advisory Board of the same named Association (Berlin). Rainisto has worked for Finland Promotion Board to prepare a national branding program. Rainisto’s knowledge of brand marketing is based on more than 30 years of private sector management experience with famous international corporations and brands. He has worked for 10 years in university research and management, and produced several books, articles and scientific papers.