The new General Manager of the Danish TV Production in Egmont’s division, Nordisk Film, is 34-year-old Jacob Houlind. He comes from a position as Managing Director for Zodiac Television World. In addition to being head of Nordisk Film’s Danish TV Production company the Finnish TV production company in Nordisk Film will also be Jacob Houlind’s responsibility.
Jacob Houlind has brought home several attractive foreign TV formats to Nordic TV Viewers via companies behind ”Sixth Sense”, ”Friends Forever” and “Paradise Hotel”.
For several years Jacob Houlind has also secured Danish ideas for TV programs broadcasting time in several countries around the world. He has been in charge of the cultural export, both on behalf of Zodiak’s own programs and formats from other production companies, including Nordisk Film.
Jacob Houlind has been part of the Zodiak Television management since 2003, and has been responsible for Zodiak’s international expansion activities and developing new TV formats across Zodiak’s home markets in the Northern region.
Jacob Houlind has worked in the TV business since he graduated with his Master of Laws in 1998. In 2004 he became a Master of Business Administration; his studies were focused on the challenges of digitalization within future television. From 1998 to 2000 Jacob worked with SBS/TV Denmark and during the past nearly six years he has held different positions in the Zodiak Management. Jacob has several important positions in the Danish TV business, one of them is member of the board of Danish Television International, where several production companies together with DR and TV 2 co-operate on exporting TV ideas. In addition to this, Jacob is member of the organisations behind the American Emmy Awards and the prestigious international award from Montreux, Rose d’Or. He is also a member of the American TV fair NATPE.
Jacob Houlind takes up his position no later than February 1 2006 as General Manager of Nordisk Film’s TV Production in Denmark. Nordisk Film’s Acting Managing Director, Ole Larsen, says: “The decision to get Jacob on board underlines our ambition to place the polar bear back in the leading position in the Danish and Nordic TV business, we look forward to the collaboration. His big network in Denmark and abroad is based on personal chemistry, business insight and flair for new ideas. Both the Danish TV Production and the Nordic TV collaboration between our Danish daughter companies is strengthened”.
Jacob Houlind says: “The polar bear is special to most Danes. In a changeable TV market the nearly 100-year-old Nordisk Film has deep roots in the Danish culture. In addition to this the Nordisk Film daughter companies are close to all channels for moving images; from web, games and DVD to mobile phones, cinemas and film production – which opens up for some exciting opportunities in the future media landscape. It was hard to say no this and with this unique foundation I look forward to building up Nordisk Film’s TV activities in Denmark as well as the collaboration across the Nordic region”.
Out of the Egmont division, Nordisk Film’s total budget, the TV Production in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland is in charge of app. 10% of the turnover.
In Denmark Nordisk Film’s TV Production is behind the “FC Zulu”, Good Evening Denmark and “Snurre Snup’s Søndagsklub”. TV 3’s “Bug Buster”, and the recently broadcast international TV Documentary about Karen Blixen. Apart from project employees, who are working in Nordisk Film according to the activity level, the company employs 25 people.
Further information, please contact:
Acting Managing Director in Nordisk Film, Ole Larsen: 36 18 82 00
Press Relations Manager Henrik Harrring Jørgensen, Egmont Koncernkommunikation: 23 33 02 65
