With great sadness we report that Genelec Founder Ilpo Martikainen has passed away aged 69.

An announcement from Genelec said, 

We are deeply saddened to announce that Ilpo Martikainen, the founder of Genelec and a true pioneer in active audio monitoring has passed away yesterday January 30th 2017, at the age of 69 after struggling with a long-term illness.

During the recent years, Ilpo focused on involving the next generation. His children Juho Martikainen, Mikko Martikainen and Maria Martikainen have grown up as part of the Genelec family. They have been closely involved in developing the company into the leading global brand in active audio monitoring as members of the Genelec Board since 2001. The children will continue in ownership of Genelec together with the other board members Topi Partanen and Ritva Leinonen who have made their lifework with Genelec. Ritva Leinonen continues as the Chairperson of Genelec Board.

We warmly thank Ilpo’s family for supporting him in being an essential part of our lives and journey too. We hope the whole audio and music industry will join us in extending thoughts and prayers to his family.

Even if we greatly miss Ilpo we are privileged and grateful to share in the wonderful memories, passion, humanistic values, love and evolution of the Genelec story that we have experienced with Ilpo. This keeps his memory living in our hearts and deeds. He will continue to live on, through us.

Siamäk Naghian, Managing Director

Genelec Oy

I have been a fan of Genelecs since the first time I heard them. Having recently experienced the latest generation monitors, I'm reassured that they will continue to be the innovators in active monitor design, that Ilpo Martikainen founded in 1978.