IN MEMORIAL, Kai Portman "Global Citizen – A Man of Two Professions"
Kai Portman, Sales Manager of Maintworld magazine, passed away suddenly on 17 February 2025 due to an injury. He was 54 years old, born in Helsinki on 5 May 1970.
Kai Portman was a global citizen even before the term became widely used. The son of a Finnish mother and an American father, he spent his childhood years in Finland, Sweden, Italy, and England.
He completed his military service in Finland. He studied acting in Los Angeles and Rome and earned a business degree in California.
Multilingual and a passionate traveler, Kai Portman became well known in our industry through trade fairs around the world. He was an excellent salesman, always looking after his clients’ interests with unwavering dedication.
At the same time, he was a sensitive person and attentive listener. Over the years, many of his clients became close personal friends.
Kai’s acting work has been seen worldwide in several films. In Italy, he entertained audiences for years in television series.
Kai brilliantly combined his two professions. For Maintworld magazine, we filmed live interviews together at trade fairs in Finland, after which he borrowed the camera for his travels. The footage he captured was edited into short documentaries about professional events in the industry. And the camera never rested, even after long days at trade fairs. For example, he came up with the idea of placing the camera on the unmanned front window of the Dubai metro, capturing a video journey across the city. The result was unique content that readers around the world enjoyed.
In addition to his friends and colleagues, Kai is deeply missed by his family. His children, Alexia, Ariel, Aria, and Arin, were dearly loved by their father.
Vaula Aunola, friend and colleague
