About Kimmo Linkama
After getting my translator’s degree, my first job was with a carpet and rug manufacturer in central Finland who was looking for someone to help them increase their business to continental Europe. In two years, my efforts increased the proportion of exports from 15 to 38 per cent of the company’s turnover.
Looking for bigger challenges, I then got a sales position with Finnair, the Finnish national airline, where I worked mainly with travel agencies and large customer accounts. Besides legwork, I did quite a lot of direct mail and found it to be very efficient.
One day in spring 1985, the phone rang. Anderson & Lembke, the then top business-to-business advertising agency in Finland, sometimes called “the university of copywriters” was looking for fresh talent, preferably someone with previous sales experience. Thanks to my background in sales, I was chosen. That’s how I got into marketing communication, which I have been busy with ever since.
In 1996 I was ready to start on my own. And here I am now.
Communication planning & management
I have held several managerial positions being responsible for corporate communications, clients’ communication planning and implementation, and corporate identity programmes. Assignments have involved strategic and tactical planning of Integrated Marketing Communications to maximise the yield of clients’ communication investments. Costing, scheduling and sourcing of projects have also been part of my work.
Copywriting & editing
I have wide experience as an advertising copywriter for industrial companies, particularly in the engineering, pulp & paper, electronics, construction and information technology industries, as well as all types of export. One special expertise area is corporate identity.
My assignments have included advertisements, ad campaigns, brochures, direct mail pieces, articles for trade and customer magazines, TV commercials, presentation materials, annual reports, graphics manuals, websites. I have also acted as editor for a number of publications, such as brochures, customer magazines, internal marketing and training materials, websites.
Transcreation
I have transcreated thousands of texts: advertising campaigns, manuals, communication strategies, TV, video and multivision scripts, presentation materials, magazine articles, annual reports, share issue materials, web content. I transcreate from Finnish, Swedish and Estonian into English and from English, Swedish and Estonian into Finnish.
I’ve also transcreated fiction: novels by Sidney Sheldon, Ken Follett, Agatha Christie, Andrew Klavan, Alistair McLean, John Grisham and Danielle Steel from English into Finnish for WSOY, Finland’s largest publishing house.
Language skills
Finnish (native language)
English (second language)
Estonian (fluent)
Swedish (fluent)
German (getting by)
French (tourist level)
Work history
Linkama OÜ, Otepää, Estonia
Owner, Copywriter 2005-
Freelance Copywriter, Finland
1996-2005
A&L Grey, Helsinki, Finland (b-to-b advertising agency)
Senior Copywriter 1994-96
Keyword, Helsinki, Finland
Managing Partner, Copywriter 1993-94
Taucher Communications, Helsinki, Finland (affiliated to Y&R)
Business Unit Director 1992-93
Varis & Ojala, Helsinki, Finland (graphic consultancy)
Account Executive 1989-92
Fiskars Corporation, Helsinki, Finland
Head of Corporate Communications 1988-89
Anderson & Lembke, Helsinki, Finland (b-to-b advertising agency)
Copywriter, Campaign Planner 1985-88
Finnair, Region Helsinki & South Finland (national airline)
Sales Consultant 1982-85
Botnia-Carpet, Finland (rug manufacturer)
Export Manager 1980-82
+372 53 490503
contact [at] linkama.com