Red Arrow Sets Up Nordic Operation

MUNICH: ProSiebenSat.1’s Red Arrow Entertainment Group has aligned with Pontus Gårdinger to launch Snowman Productions in the Nordic region, to be headquartered in Stockholm.

Gårdinger, who has more than 15 years of experience in the TV business, will lead the new outfit. Gårdinger was previously the head of executive production at Jarowskij (Zodiak), and also hosted the hit show Beat the Star on Sweden’s Kanal 5. He was also executive creator and producer at Silverback. Gårdinger is working to assemble Snowman’s core team of production and creative executives. Sjöfn Blöndal is already on board. Blöndal is the former COO at Silverback and was also the head of digital media and moving images at Jung Relations. Blöndal also served as head of production at Strix Television and head of production for entertainment and scripted drama at Jarowskij.

Jan Frouman, the group managing director of Red Arrow, said: "Just as we have done in other territories, we based our Nordic expansion plans around finding the right leadership. Pontus is an exceptionally versatile, smart and driven production executive. He combines a keen creative sense with outstanding managerial and leadership skills. We are proud to call him our partner and know that Snowman Productions couldn’t be in more capable hands."

Gårdinger added: "The new venture is very exciting. The Nordic media market is more vigorous than ever and Red Arrow’s recent and on-going expansion activities reflect exactly the sort of determination and ambition one looks for in a dedicated and strong partner. Launching Snowman Productions together simply feels like a perfect match."

Red Arrow recently acquired Kinetic Content in the U.S. and Sultan Sushi in Belgium, rolling out it out to the Netherlands. The company also recently struck up a co-production partnership with Granada Media in Australia.