SF Studios’s CEO Steps Down

STOCKHOLM: Jonas Fors is leaving his position as CEO of SF Studios, effective immediately, following allegations of cultivating a sexist corporate culture and improper conduct.

Frida Westerberg, deputy CEO and COO at SF Studios, will take over as acting CEO, and the search for a new CEO will start immediately.

Ulrika Saxon, who represents Bonnier on the board of directors for SF Studios, commented: “For Bonnier as majority owner, we have come to the conclusion that, considering the current situation, Jonas Fors can no longer successfully serve as leader for SF Studios.”

Numerous reports allege that there was a “sexist” corporate culture at SF Studios, which recently rebranded from Svensk Filmindustri. There were also issues surrounding money spent on renting yachts and visiting strip clubs while in Cannes for the film festival last month.

“In recent days, harsh criticism has been leveled at SF Studios regarding the company’s corporate culture, in particular in connection with gender equality, as well as regarding the company’s conduct at the film festival in Cannes and the company’s business model for its film and TV productions,” Saxon said.

“We take the criticism very seriously. In terms of SF Studios’s corporate culture, two images of the company stand diametrically opposed to each other, especially concerning gender equality. On one side, 60 percent of the company’s employees are women, the executive management team is evenly divided between men and women, and there are women in a number of the most central leadership positions. On the other side are accusations of sexism. In order to get to the facts concerning the company’s work culture, we will be bringing in a third party to conduct a thorough survey among SF Studios’s employees.”

Saxon added: “SF Studios will continue to invest heavily in Swedish and Nordic films in the future, so it is crucial that the production business be economically viable. In order to do so, SF Studios must continue to attract top talents from within the industry. To succeed in this will require both a good work environment within the corporate organization as well as the confidence of other players in the industry.”