Panu Pokkinen, Director and Editor-in-Chief of News and Sports division of national broadcaster Yle died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday, said Yle in a press release.
He was 49 years old.
Pokkinen suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while jogging during a holiday trip to Lisbon in early June.
He was hospitalized in Lisbon for three weeks, after which he was transferred to Finland for further examinations.
Pokkinen was recovering well from the incident but suffered a sudden, new cardiac arrest at a hospital in Helsinki last week where he died on Wednesday.
"We are deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened. Our thoughts are first and foremost with Panu´s loved ones: we extend our deepest condolences to his family and other close friends in their great sorrow. This is, of course, a shock to the entire work community as well, to whom we are offering all possible support. We have lost a wonderful person and a dear colleague," said Marit af Björkesten, the Chief Executive Officer of Yle in the press release.
Pokkinen was appointed as the Editor-in-Chief in June 2024. Prior to that, he worked as the Director of Yle's Sports and Events unit.
Previously, Pokkinen worked as Head of Yle Sports, Editor-in-Chief of News at Iltalehti, and News Editor at Ilta-Sanomat, among other roles.
He held a Master of Social Sciences and a Master of Military Sciences degree.
Krista Taubert will continue as the acting Editor-in-Chief of the Yle News and Sports and as a member of the Management Group for the time being.
The Board of Directors of Yle appointed Taubert in early June to deputize for Pokkinen, the press release added.
- Panu Pokkinen
- Yle Editor-in-Chief
- Died
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
