Svensk Filmindustri Reorganizes at Nordic Level

STOCKHOLM: Michael Fleischer, the managing director at SF Film in Denmark, and Guttorm Petterson, the managing director at SF Norge in Norway, are leaving their positions within Svensk Filmindustri.

Fleischer has been with SF Film since January 2000, responsible for theatrical and home entertainment distribution activities. SF Film's recent TV successes include Rita and The Seaside Hotel.

Petterson became MD at SF Norge in March 1999. The company has been involved in local film productions such as Sophie's World, Kitchen Stories and franchises like Casper and Emma and the Varg Veum crime series.

In the new Svensk Filmindustri organization, the managing director position will be replaced by a country manager—in Denmark by Lars Bjørn Hansen and in Norway by Bente Hagen Stokke, who are at present financial directors in their own territories. In Finland, former financial director Lars Warelius will return to the company, taking on the position as country manager. They will all report back to Jonas Fors, the CEO of Svensk Filmindustri, and start their jobs immediately.
 
Coinciding with these changes, Svensk Filmindustri has also appointed new local sales and marketing managers, taking responsibility for the local theatrical and home entertainment operations. The appointed sales and marketing managers are Martin Brandtler in Sweden, Thomas Schultz in Denmark and Timo Räisänen in Finland.
 In Norway, the recruitment process of finding a new sales and marketing manager has started. In the meantime, Antti Toiviainen will take on that position.

Fors commented: “Michael and Guttorm have both done tremendous jobs with their teams in Denmark and Norway and we are very grateful for what they have accomplished over the years. Under their leadership, SF Film and SF Norge have positioned themselves as the leading theatrical and home entertainment distributors as well as very successful producers of local filmed entertainment in their markets. Through their achievements they have pre-eminently contributed to positioning Svensk as the leading film company in the Nordic region. It is currently a very exciting, challenging and transformative time for the industry and as a company we are well positioned to meet these challenges. We have formed a new strong management team, we are stepping up our production activities, we are developing the distribution teams and increasing our marketing activities. Now that Michael and Guttorm are leaving the company, we wish them the very best of luck in their future endeavors.”
 
Fleischer said: “I have the last 14 wonderful years had the great privilege to be in charge of SF Film. 
It has been an adventurous journey and I am going to miss a great company and some fantastic colleagues who with great courage, dedication and professionalism have helped to create the biggest and best movie and TV company in Denmark.”
 
“It has been a real adventure to be with Svensk these years,” added Petterson. “I will miss the creative and collaborative environment, based on shared values, the very professional team work and the unique drive to reach set goals. I wish all my friends at Svensk good luck with their future challenges.”