Lauri Kaukonen

Lauri Kaukonen (March 3, 1902 Rantasalmi - January 8, 1975, Helsinki) was an influential business leader among Finland's cooperatives. He was a member of the executive team and administrative executive at Valio, which is the market leader in dairy products in Finland. Valio's employee Artturi Ilmari Virtanen received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Valio's main export market was the United Kingdom during Kaukonen's time of service. Kaukonen was also a member of the board at The Pellervo Society, which represents Finland's cooperatives.

Kaukonen studied at Helsinki School of Economics from where he received his master's degree in business.

Kaukonen renewed the pension scheme of dairy professionals in Finland. He also enhanced accounting, cost accounting, management and audit methods among cooperatives. He wrote a large number of articles concerning economics, business history and business computing issues for Finland's leading newspapers, magazines and congress publications. Kaukonen gave lectures at Helsinki School of Economics and worked as a teacher at Helsinki Business College.

Kaukonen had several trustee positions in cooperatives and business societies. He was a member of the board at Meijerien Keskinäinen Vakuutusyhtiö (the insurance company of dairy professionals) and at Meijeriväen Eläkekassa (the pension fund of dairy professionals). He was also the founder and the first chairman of The Pellervo Society's Commercial Club (Pellervon liiketaloudellinen kerho).

In 1962 Kaukonen was granted Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland from the President of Finland Urho Kekkonen. Kaukonen received the title of Secretariate Counsellor of his achievements and dedication among Finland's cooperatives from the President of Finland Urho Kaleva Kekkonen in 1967. The title is ranked 6th in Finland's protocol rankings. The title of Secretariate Counsellor have been given for prominent professors. Staff professors are ranked 7th.

Kaukonen had five children. His son Pertti Kaukonen served as Finland's Ambassador in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and The United Arab Emirates.