HappyOrNot to accelerate growth by appointing Miika Mäkitalo as new CEO

With former CEO & co-founder Heikki Väänänen continuing in a new strategic role as Executive VP of Growth

Chairman Stewart Roberts and Founder Heikki Väänänen have handpicked former M-Files CEO Miika Mäkitalo because of his SaaS leadership and international expansion experience 

HappyOrNot (www.happy-or-not.com), the company behind the globally recognized Smiley-faced customer experience improvement solution, today announces that former M-Files CEO, Miika Mäkitalo, has been appointed as its new CEO. 

Miika Mäkitalo, who has been a HappyOrNot board member since 2015, will assume the role of CEO on December 1st. Mäkitalo moves from fellow Tampere-based company M-Files, which offers businesses an intelligent information management solution. As CEO, Mäkitalo grew the M-Files team from 40 employees to over 500, and one of the biggest international SaaS companies in Finland in terms of Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). Former CEO Heikki Väänänen, who co-founded HappyOrNot in 2009, will remain heavily involved in the business by focusing on growth strategy, product market fit, data, and customers, and as a board member and significant shareholder. 

Mäkitalo’s SaaS leadership, international expansion experience, and ability to build incredibly strong culture-centric teams, all made him the obvious and best choice to lead HappyOrNot moving forward. 

“As a SaaS growth expert, Miika will bring expertise to carry HappyOrNot forward towards even greater success. Having a board member, who knows the company so well assume the role of CEO ensures continuity, and we have full confidence that his transition will be a smooth one,” says Stewart Roberts, Chairman of the Board at HappyOrNot and former EVP at iZettle. 

“I have worked with Miika for many years, and it is advantageous that he and the company know one another well,” comments Heikki Väänänen. “I am incredibly excited about Miika assuming the role of CEO, he will be a great leader for us and will enable us to achieve our mission of becoming the most valued partner of in-moment experience management. I am proud of the fact we have done some incredible work for our world class clients globally and have earned a strong reputation as a great partner for brands, including the likes of Levi’s Stadium, Heathrow Airport, and Elkjøp, which are driving high ROI through customer experience.” 

“I am super excited to have the opportunity to lead HappyOrNot, a company that has outstanding technology, a superior brand, and an authentic and strong company culture,” says Miika Mäkitalo. “HappyOrNot has massive potential in the market and I’m looking forward to continuing creating innovative solutions for our customers and building a very successful international growth with the talented team.”