Jannica Fagerholm and Merja Ylä-Anttila Appointed to the Board of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design

Published 28.4.2025

The board of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design has been strengthened with two new board members. Merja Ylä-Anttila, CEO of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), and Jannica Fagerholm, Managing Director of the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, joined the board overseeing the establishment of the new national architecture and design museum on April 23, 2025.

Merja Ylä-Anttila, who has led YLE since 2018, is a seasoned journalist with a career spanning several decades. Prior to joining Yle, she held various leadership roles at MTV3, where she began working in 1984. Ylä-Anttila studied communications, political science, and political history at the University of Helsinki. She also serves on the council of the Savonlinna Opera Festival, the board of Yle’s Pension Foundation, and is a member of Finland’s National Emergency Supply Council.

Jannica Fagerholm, M.Sc. (Econ.), is the Managing Director of the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, which supports medical research and operates the Villa Gyllenberg art museum. Fagerholm serves on the boards of Kesko, Mandatum, and Solidium, and was recently appointed to the board of Sanoma. In addition, she sits on the board of the Association of Finnish Art Foundations. In the latest Talouselämä listing of Finland’s 100 most influential women in decision-making, Fagerholm ranked seventh.

Timo Laitinen continues as Chair of the Foundation’s Board, with Anne Korkiakoski serving as Vice Chair. Stefan Björkman and Juha Lemström have stepped down from the board. The Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design was established in spring 2022 by the Finnish State and the City of Helsinki. Its mission is to promote and support museum activities related to architecture and design, as well as to advance, support, and raise awareness of these fields more broadly.

The foundation aims to create a new, internationally significant museum of architecture and design in Helsinki’s South Harbour district. It is responsible for the museum’s fundraising and financial management. The Architecture Museum and the Design Museum, along with their collections, were merged into the foundation on January 1, 2024.

Current members of the Board of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design:

Mikko Aho, Architect
Jannica Fagerholm, Managing Director, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation
Pauli Kariniemi, Director General, Ministry of Finance
Anne Korkiakoski, Professional Board Member
Timo Laitinen, LL.M.
Susanna Pettersson, CEO, Finnish Cultural Foundation
Anna Valtonen, Rector, Konstfack – University of Arts, Crafts and Design (Sweden)
Merja Ylä-Anttila, CEO, Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle)