Search for new leader in Central Ostrobothnia welfare area resumes after candidate exclusion

The search for a new leader for the Central Ostrobothnia welfare area has taken an unexpected turn. Two candidates, Juhani Paavola and Juha Tiainen, were initially shortlisted for interviews scheduled for next week. However, today, Soite announced that the entire application process will essentially start over.

The application period for the welfare leader position has been extended by three weeks, allowing for potential new applicants to enter the running, alongside nine individuals who had previously applied. Notably, Juhani Paavola has been excluded from the selection process, as he has reportedly lost the confidence of the selection committee. This lack of trust stems from his failure to openly disclose previous employment relationships.

Recent reporting by Keskipohjanmaa newspaper highlighted discrepancies regarding Paavola’s application. It claimed that he had previously worked under the name Teemu, despite applying for the welfare leader role under the name Juhani. Moreover, he did not include his most recent, albeit short-term, employment in his resume; his position as the evaluation director for the Central Finland welfare area was terminated before the completion of a six-month probationary period in May 2023.

The selection committee for the welfare leader position consists of the chairpersons of the regional council and government, the leaders of council groups, and Soite’s HR director. The application period will close on September 20, after which Soite aims to make a selection as soon as possible. The position became available following Minna Korkiakoski-Västi’s resignation in February, which she attributed to a breakdown of trust among the region’s political decision-makers. She has since been appointed as the head of a service company for welfare areas.