Irja Ketonen
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Irja Ketonen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Irja Helena Blomqvist 20 June 1921 |
| Died | 17 November 1988 (aged 67) Turku, Finland |
| Occupation | Media executive |
| Spouse(s) | Arvo Ketonen, (m. 1941 – his death in 1948) |
Irja Ketonen (née Blomqvist; 20 June 1921 – 17 November 1988)[1] was a Finnish media executive, whose life and career has been described as 'the Cinderella story of the Finnish media sector'.[2] She was the first woman to be granted Finland's highest civilian honorary title of Vuorineuvos.[3]
Irja Blomqvist was born to a working-class family. She began work at the age of 13, as a gofer in the Turun Sanomat newspaper offices,[1] in which role she stayed for three years, while at the same time finishing her education. Later she was promoted to clerical roles, dealing with administrative matters such as processing mail and advertising.[4] The managing director and editor-in-chief, Arvo Ketonen, saw potential in her, and among other things trusted her with the management of the newspaper's picture archive.[4]
Marriage
Arvo Ketonen's first marriage had ended in 1933, when his wife died leaving no children. In 1941, he caused controversy by marrying his employee, Irja Blomqvist, 30 years his junior.[1]
Consequently, she left her job at the newspaper, and became a homemaker. The couple had four children, born between 1942 and 1946.[4]
In 1945, Arvo Ketonen became ill, and eventually died in 1948, leaving his widow to look after the family business and a young family.[4]
