The Board of Directors has announced that Mikko Lehtinen has joined the company’s talent roster for exclusive U.S. representation. Mikko is a natural born storyteller, and a top-drawer craftsman, with stellar performances, rhythm, and timing, being the secret sauce to his compelling directing.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Mikko to our roster. His work immediately caught our eye with its refined aesthetic and effortlessly global perspective—cinematic, elevated, and unconstrained by genre or geography,” said Brandon Tapp, executive producer. “With a sharp visual voice, meticulous design sensibility, and remarkable range, Mikko brings a fresh, worldly energy to every project he takes on. Having shot across numerous countries and cultures, he brings a deep understanding of international production that enhances both the creative and the collaborative process.”
“I very quickly connected with Brandon – he’s the kind of person I would love to have on set as a producer,” explained Mikko. “The fact that he has roots in Austin is very compelling as it is a place where film and music interconnect in a really interesting and authentic way. It really comes down to the people and feeling a sense of home even if we are based in different places, and I found that with The Board of Directors.”
Born in Finland – known for being the happiest place on Earth with thousands of lakes, and silent forests where the air hums with the stillness of things waiting to happen – Mikko’s trajectory was anything but quiet. Captivated by the bombast and visceral cinematic storytelling prevalent in America, Mikko delved into production where a twist of fate landed him in the director seat on a project that garnered millions of views.
From this epic start, Mikko forged a directing career built on a refreshingly straightforward ethos: entertain the audience. With a diverse background spanning across marketing, advertising, acting, theatre, and cultural history studies, Mikko has directed hundreds of commercials to date. And while his guitar playing and rock star dreams didn’t land him on the cover of Rolling Stone, music continues to have a massive influence on and in his stories. With a deep connection to nature he has chased the light in all seven continents, and explored extreme terrain all in pursuit of a good story. His work – a combination of witty, heartwarming, electric and thought-provoking – has been honoured with awards – from Cannes Lions to British Arrows.
The Board of Directors is a collection of talented directors and producers who thrive on unlocking the most engaging ways to visualise story. Adam Littke, Ben Hoffman, Franco Garuti, Jeff Bednarz, Lan Freedman and Tom Ryan are featured talents who take their craft seriously while enjoying the process of discovery and direction. The name is an ode to a new perspective on business, where an open door welcomes all.