SF Studios chief Porseryd exits, chairman Bernhardsson named acting CEO

Michael Porseryd

SF Studios CEO Michael Porseryd is exiting after six years at the helm of the Bonnier–owned Nordic producer and distributor.

The decision was “jointly agreed” by Porseryd and the board and in a short statement the outgoing chief said: “I want to thank colleagues and business partners for six fantastic years, and I look forward to continue following SF Studios’ successful development.”

Porseryd arrived at SF Studios in 2016, having previously served as CEO of Endemol Nordics, but left after the merger of Endemol and Shine Group at the turn of 2015, which resulted in the creation of Endemol Shine Nordics.

He was hired by SF Studios to replace Jonas Fors and with the task of cleaning up the company’s image after Fors was relieved of his position after damaging allegations over company conduct at the Cannes Film Festival.

Porseryd is credited for launching Endemol’s Nordic business in 2010, having left another Scandi prodco, Metronome, in 2009 after Shine Group paid $88m to buy the business. Before Metronome, he spent 10 years as managing director of Modern Times Group subsidiaries Viasat Broadcasting, TV8 and ZTV.

SF Studios chairman, Jan Bernhardsson, will assume the role as acting CEO while the board seeks out a permanent replacement. Bernhardsson previously served as EVP of AMC Europe, COO of Odeon Cinemas Group, and group president and CEO of Nordic Cinema Group and SF Bio AB.

Erik Haegerstrand, CEO of the Bonnier Group, will meanwhile act as chairman of the board while Bernhardsson is acting CEO.

“I want to thank Michael Porseryd who, during his six years as CEO of SF Studios, has led the transformation of the business from a distribution-focused company to also strengthen its production business.

“The change has been successful and recently peaked with the premiere of A Man Called Otto, the English version of the Swedish En man som heter Ove. SF Studios is now entering a new phase where the company will take the next step on its strategy,” said Bernhardsson.

SF Studios, which recently obtained the rights to Swedish crime novels, The Åre Murders, is one of the world’s oldest film companies and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and has offices in Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki and London, producing and distributing feature films and TV series as well as streamer SF Kids alongside SF Anytime.