The Governor (, or ) of a province of Finland headed the activities of the State Provincial Office (, or ) until the end of 2009, when the provinces were abolished. The governors were appointed by the President. Many former ministers including but not limited to Kaarlo Hillilä, Martti Miettunen, Hannele Pokka and Anneli Taina served as governors, since the post was regarded as prestigious enough for a retiring minister, but still politically neutral. The title of maaherra was also considered a personal title, such that once appointed, the title maaherra remained for life. During the Swedish period (1634–1809) and the Russian period (1809–1917) the governor was a royal plenipotentiary, representing the sovereign, but with independence, the function was reversed: the governor represented his territory to the central government.

List of Provincial Governors

Province of Turku and Pori 1634–1997

Province of Nyland and Tavastehus 1634–1831

Province of Ostrobothnia 1634–1775

Province of Viborg and Nyslott 1634–1721

Province of Kexholm 1634–1721

Province of Kymmenegård and Nyslott 1721–1747

Province of Savolax and Kymmenegård 1747–1775

Province of Vaasa 1775–1997

Province of Oulu 1775–2009

Province of Kymmenegård 1775–1831

Province of Savolax and Karelia 1775–1831

Province of Viipuri 1812–1945

Province of Uusimaa 1831–1997

Province of Häme 1831–1997

Province of Mikkeli 1831–1997

Province of Kuopio 1831–1997

Province of Åland 1918–2009

Province of Petsamo 1921–1921

Province of Lapland 1938–2009

Province of Kymi 1945–1997

Province of Central Finland 1960–1997

Province of Northern Karelia 1960–1997

Province of Southern Finland 1997–2009

Province of Western Finland 1997–2009

Province of Eastern Finland 1997–2009

Governors of Västernorrland County, Västerbotten County, Saint Petersburg Governorate and Vyborg Governorate

Governors of Västernorrland County and Västerbotten County ruled in 1634–1809 also northern part of Finnish Lapland and eastern part of Torne Valley. Governors of Saint Petersburg Governorate and Vyborg Governorate ruled Old Finland (predecessor of Province of Viipuri) in 1721–1812.

Västernorrland County 1634–1638

Västerbotten County 1638–1809

Saint Petersburg Governorate 1721–1744

Vyborg Governorate 1744–1812