Endemol Shine exec joins Fremantle Finland

FremantleMedia Finland has poached Endemol Shine Finland creative director Anne Wahlström (pictured) to become its head of entertainment.

The appointment comes soon after FremantleMedia’s Finnish office appointed Banijay executive Joonas Hytönen as managing director.

Wahlström joins on January 1 next year, reporting to Hytönen. Her post is a new one, designed to build out FremantleMedia’s entertainment development and production capacity.

FremantleMedia CEO, Nordics, eastern Europe and the Balkans, Daniela Matei made the appointment, and said: “Anne has fantastic experience working on high-profile local and international shows. I have no doubt that she will be a huge support to Joonas when he takes up the role, and that her skills and creativity will add value to our existing team.”

At Endemol Shine Finland, Wahlström was creative director – productions, working on local shows and key international formats.

Before Endemol Shine, she was head of production at Solar Television, which is now part of Banijay Finland; held production roles at Metronome Film & Television, which Shine Group acquired in 2009 for £60 million (US$91.2 million) and later became part of Endemol Shine Nordics; and Zodiak Finland.

“The FremantleMedia catalogue contains an impressive list of the world’s most talked-about entertainment shows,” said Wahlström. “I can’t wait to start working with Joonas and the team to bring these to Finnish viewers.”

Hytönen was replaced in the interim at Banijay Finland by CCO Martti Suovinen CCO, CFO Rami Jahkonen, and COO Suvi Oja Heiniemi, who become joint acting CEOs, as TBI first reported earlier this month.