New YLE Director-General diagnosed with prostate cancer on eve of appointment

Mikael Jungner to take over reins next week as scheduled

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A matter of days before he formally takes up his position, the new Director-General of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) Mikael Jungner, 40, has reported that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The ailment is being treated with medication, and Jungner will take up his duties from May 1st as scheduled. The Director-General's post is a five-year one.
      The YLE Administrative Council, which appointed Jungner in November of last year, was informed on Tuesday and gave the new D-G's decision its full support, as did the company's board and executive management.
      Jungner stated that the diagnosis was confirmed a few weeks ago. "As things stand, the illness will not affect my ability to carry out my duties. If we are talking years, there is no complete certainty. But this is no terminal patient situation. I may even be up for another five-year term", said Jungner.
     
"The situation right now is that if I did not know I was ill, I wouldn't be aware there was anything wrong with me. The impression I have received is that there is no cause to assume my condition will worsen", was the description Jungner gave.
      He added that he felt that it might have been better to report the matter somewhat later, when there might be more information on the nature of the illness.
      "The decision came up on Tuesday, because I wished for the entire Administrative Council to hear about the matter from me. The next plenary session would not have been until June."
      Jungner said that he had informed "dozens" of people close to him and among his future employers of the development of his medical condition. He commented favourably on their loyalty, but noted that it was inevitable that rumours would get around. He also noted that he was pleased and somewhat surprised that other media had resisted the temptation to go public with vague rumours.
      Jungner pointed out that prostate cancer is such a well-known complaint in Finland that any possible longer periods away from work would be known about months in advance. His immediate deputy in his absence is the Deputy Director-General Seppo Härkönen.
     
Mikael Jungner was something of a surprise choice to head the Finnish national broadcaster when his appointment was announced in November.
      He was previously employed by Microsoft Finland as their Director of Information Society Relations, and has also served as a Parliamentary secretary and special political aide to Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, now the Speaker of Parliament.
     
From May 1st, the present YLE Director-General Arne Wessberg will not be retiring immediately, but will be assigned to special functions associated with his existing international commitments.
      Last summer Wessberg was re-elected as President of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for a second two-year term, running until August 2006. He has headed the Finnish Broadcasting Company since 1994.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish Broadcasting Company appoints new Director General (17.11.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat