Yle’s editor-in-chief Panu Pokkinen has died

Pokkinen died at the age of 49 as a result of cardiac arrest on Wednesday in a hospital in Helsinki. He was born in Tampere in 1976.

Pokkinen’s heart stopped unexpectedly on a run on vacation in Lisbon at the beginning of June. He was hospitalized in Lisbon for three weeks, after which he was transferred to Finland for further examinations.

Pokkinen was appointed editor-in-chief in June 2024. Before that, he worked as the head of Yle’s sports and events unit.

Earlier Among other things, Pokkinen worked as the head of Yle Urheilu, the chief news editor of Iltalehti, the chief news editor of Ilta-Sanomie and the chief editor of Ruotuväe.

His education was YTM from the University of Tampere (2006) and a master’s degree in military science (2000).

“Today there is a very quiet, upset and sad atmosphere in the office”, Yle’s CEO Marit af Björkesten tells HS.

He describes Pokki as a bright, cheerful and solution-oriented colleague.

“Panu was a caring person and we will miss him a lot,” he continues.

President of the Republic Alexander Stubb offered his condolences on Pokkinen’s death at the NATO summit in Turkey.

“In my opinion, he was one of the finest journalists in Finland, who was always able to deal with things in a bigger way. The young man left far too soon. My condolences to all of Yle and especially to the Pokkinen family,” said Stubb.

Also the Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (kok) offered his condolences on Pokkinen’s death.

“My deepest condolences to Panu’s family and loved ones due to the heavy loss. Strength for grief and comfort from dear memories,” Orpo writes in the message service in X.

Ylen board chairman Kari Kivelä tells HS that Pokkinen will be remembered at Yle as a helpful, dedicated and widely respected person.

Af Björkesten tells Krista Taubert’s continuing as the deputy editor-in-chief of Yle’s news and sports unit and as a member of the management team for the time being. Yle’s board of directors appointed Taubert to replace Pokki at the beginning of June.

Kivelä and af Björkesten do not want to comment on how Pokkinen’s death affects the organization of Yle’s management. Although in the “long term” the situation requires measures within the Yle news organization, according to af Björkesten, it is not yet time to think about the next steps.

“Today, our thoughts go out to Pokkinen’s family and loved ones,” he says.

Pokkisen the death was covered as the main news in Yle’s half nine news. Yle CEO Marit af Björkesten was also interviewed in the news broadcast.

“Panu was a visionary. He often thought big, and quite often he was also able to take these ideas into everyday life and concreteness,” af Björkesten said on the broadcast.

“The entire news department takes part in the grief of the relatives”, the news anchor Jussi-Pekka Rantanen said at the end of the section.