Endemol Shine poaches MTG exec for Nordics

Endemol Shine Nordics has poached Modern Times Group programming exec Karin Stjärne to become its CEO.

This comes after a restructure that resulted the departures of Bertil Rosenlund and Victoria Kjellberg, as announced in November last year.

Stjärne (pictured) joins from MTG, where she was VP of programming for MTG Sweden, and will cover all programming, strategic, sales, development and digital activities across Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway for Endemol Shine.

Filippa Wallenstam, MTG Sweden’s head of operations, replaces her on an interim basis.

Companies within the Endemol Shine Nordics banner include Meter Television, STO-CPH Produktion, Metronome Rental, Mag 5 Content and Filmlance International in Sweden, Metronome Productions and Metronome Studios in Denmark, Rubicon TV and Metronome Spartacus in Norway and Endemol Shine Finland.

These prodcos produce around 200 titles every year, and are currently working on the final season of Nordic noir Bron (The Bridge), Danish format Stripped and The Great Swedish Adventure.

The role begins in April, with Stjärne reporting to Marcus Wolter, Endemol Shine Germany CEO and northern Europe group chairman.

Stjärne has worked in broadcasting since 1993 for broadcasters such as SVT, MTG, Viacom and TV4. She spent six years as managing director of Nordisk Film TV, growing it within the Banijay Group.

Most recently, her role included overseeing all content for MTG’s Swedish free-to-air channels, launching advertiser-funded VOD player Viafree and overseeing digital transformation projects, which are at the core of MTG’s current company-wide strategy.

“Karin has a broad and deep knowledge of the Nordic’s content industry, extensive international experience and an understanding of the needs, challenges and evolving nature of our buyers’ businesses,” said Wolter.

Former bosses Rosenlund and Kjellberg had overseen the group as COO and chief creative officer respectively following the exit of Endemol Shine’s international CEO Gary Carter in 2015.

“I have been an admirer for a long time of the diverse and brilliant producers and companies under the Endemol Shine Nordics umbrella,” said Stjärne.

“Their ability to generate both originating compelling content as well as adapting some of the world’s biggest formats from the wider Endemol Shine Group within the Nordic market is very impressive. I look forward to getting started with my new accomplished colleagues.”