Henry Backlund new Executive in Residence at Hanken

Henry Backlund, who holds a master's degree in pedagogy and an EMBA degree from Hanken in 2022, has been an entrepreneur for over forty years. He is the founder and principal owner of the family company Dermoshop, with Dermosil as its brand. Dermoshop, which is one of the first e-commerce companies in the Nordics, began developing and selling skincare products online as early as 1996.

In recent years, Backlund has dedicated himself to board work in both larger companies and startups. Today, in addition to serving on the boards of Dermoshop companies, he is also on the boards of Kuva Seppälä-yhtiöt and Wellmedic. The latest addition to the Dermoshop group is the company Hickap AB, which Dermoshop acquired in December 2024.

"At Hanken, I will give lectures, be available for the Business Lab, contribute ideas, and serve as a link to the business community. I am particularly interested in management and customer-related issues and have, for example, researched customer experiences and customer learning”, says Backlund.

The main task of the Executive in Residence is to support the development of teaching and research from a business perspective. Through their role, the person supports Hanken in developing the university's business and community relations.

"We are very pleased that Henry, who has previously been involved in Hanken's startup activities in both Vaasa and Helsinki, is now becoming more closely connected to Hanken. His extensive experience as an entrepreneur, business leader, and board professional strengthens our operations. For us, it is very important to be embedded in the local ecosystem in Ostrobothnia, and Henry serves as an important link between Hanken and the business community", says Sören Kock, dean of international relations, and rector’s representative in Vaasa.