Where are you from originally?
I’m from Jyväskylá, Finland. I first came to Phuket in 1998, from Singapore. After three months I decided that this was the place for me, so I went back home, sold the car and moved here in September of the same year.

Tell us about your background?
I was five years in Yugoslavia during the 1990's war, working for the Finnish military and the UN. The first year in Phuket, I worked in the diving business and then in 1999, I was approached to run Kitchen Studio. Within six months I became a partner and two or three years later, I became sole owner.

Tell us about your business?
What we’re doing is offering and installing high-end kitchen equipment on a custom basis. The client gets exactly what he wants within a budget he can afford.

What is your business principle?
We aim to supply first-class equipment and perform the installation to European standards.

What is your main business target?
Private villa owners.

Whereabouts do you live in Phuket?
I live near Chalong Temple. It’s a lovely Thai-style house with a sala. We love it.

What do you like and dislike about Phuket?
I like everything, except the traffic.

Where’s your favourite place in Phuket?
My home. I am definitely homebody. I’ve been to so many places, seen so many things in my life, but this finally, I like to call home.

What’s your view on Phuket?
I think the biggest problem is the haphazard way houses are built. There’s no planning, no zoning.

What do you do in your free time?
I’m crazy about golf. I’m a member of Phuket Country Club.

Could you tell us about your family?
I’ve two children (a 20-yearold son and 19-year-old daughter) both living in Finland. I’ve remarried here and we’ve two daughters. One is five, and the other is one. The five-year-old daughter is studying at the British International School. We’re aiming to teach her to be fluent in three languages, Thai, English and Finnish.

How do you divide your time between business and family?
We spend time together, work and live together. We often go to the beach and I’ve start to teach my daughter to play golf.

How much do you rate the quality of your life?
It’s good. I mean we’re satisfied. We’re living a nice family life.

Where are you from?
I was born in LopBuri City (Monkey city!). My parents still work and live there.

When did you move to Phuket?
In February, 2009, but before this I was visiting for a year and a half.

What made you decide to come and live here?
I’d been working in the hotel business for five years. The Centara Hotel group sent me to Holland on a management development course, after which I worked as a manager in Samui and Bangkok. Then, on a visit here I met the owner of White Box, Mr. Marc and he offered me this job.

Tell us about your job.
I’m responsible for all sales and marketing. I’m always talking to agents and corporate reps. It’s a lot, I can tell you. I say that everybody who knows White Box should know me.

How do you evaluate success?
When everyone is happy, that’s success.

Who is the person who has most influenced you?
My fiancé. He’s the one who’s always beside me, and supports me all the time.

How does working in Phuket compare to back home?
Compared to Lopburi which is really peaceful, Phuket is quite hectic on the business front.

Whereabouts do you live in Phuket?
I live in Patong on the mountain near the Le Meridian Hotel. The view from there is wonderful.

Would you tell me about your family?
My fiancé is French. His name is Christophe Gestin. He works as Director of Food & Beverage, at Centara Karon Resort. We’ve been together for four years.

What do you do in your spare time?
Well, I work six days a week, and only take Sundays off. I like meeting new people and enjoy the party scene. It goes with the job. When I’m free I always spend time with my fiancé. We love to go to a beach or spend time with friends, go to a movie or check out a new restaurant.

What’s your call on Phuket as a place to live? Good and bad?
You can never be bored in Phuket. There’s so much to do – from huge department stores to relaxing on a beach, or walking in the mountains. We never get tired travelling around the island. I think it’s the natural side that we like best. This place is pretty expensive, ’though!