Nordisk Film and Egmont Entertainment are joining forces and will become one Egmont entity under the name of Nordisk Film. The new Nordisk Film incorporates all parts of the value chain in the electronic entertainment world: Development, production, marketing and distribution of moving pictures in the Nordic countries. Managing Director Kenneth D. Plummer will head up the new organisation with an annual turnover of more than € 405 million and a staff of approximately 1,350 people. Former Managing Director of Nordisk Film, Søren E. Jakobsen, will among other assignments be working with Egmont’s investments in the TV-field and report to CEO Steffen Kragh.
Following the joining of forces, the new Nordisk Film will be the largest producer and distributor of electronic entertainment in the Nordic countries. Egmont has gathered all its film, TV and electronic games activities under one management. The Nordisk Film and Egmont Entertainment divisions join forces in one strong unit with an annual turnover exceeding € 405 million and a staff of approximately 1,350 people. Managing Director Kenneth D. Plummer, former Managing Director of Egmont Entertainment, will be head of the new Nordisk Film.
Søren E. Jakobsen, Managing Director of Nordisk Film since 1996, resigns from his present position and will among other assignments be working with Egmont’s investments in the TV-field reporting to CEO Steffen Kragh.
Egmont’s CEO Steffen Kragh comments: “The almost 100 year old Nordisk Film is behind countless Danish cultural common denominators, and the Polar Bear has become one of Denmark’s best known and most valued brands. The joining of forces strengthens the Polar Bear towards talent as well as towards business partners. Nordisk Film now truly becomes Nordic. The potential is expected to benefit Egmont’s other media.”
Nordisk Film now incorporates all elements of the moving pictures’ road from idea to cinema screens and TV. Film, TV, animation and electronic games. Film equipment, studios, post production and film laboratories. Acquisition and sales of rights to thousands of Danish and foreign films. Cinema, video and DVD. Sales and marketing of SONY PlayStation games and consoles. Globally, the games industry is undergoing tremendous growth and is approaching the film business more and more.
Søren E. Jakobsen, who joined Nordisk Film coming from a position as TV Director in DR (Denmark’s state operated radio and TV stations) in 1996, says: “The joining of the two divisions is important and the right step for Egmont to take at a time when internationalisation and the ensuing requirement for size and financial strength as well as for control of the entire value chain is of the essence. Nordisk Film has a strong position in the Nordic countries as well as internationally. This initiative strengthens the almost 100-year-old company further.”
Managing Director of Nordisk Film, Kenneth D. Plummer, 41, says:
“The objective of the new Nordisk Film is to continue the growth of our core business areas: Story telling in moving pictures,”.
“After a little less than 7 years of separation we return to our roots. With a background as cinema owner, Ole Olsen, the founder of the company, established Nordisk Film Kompagni in 1906, thus skilfully and innovatively entering all business areas in the film industry. He combined efficiency with room for talent and a strong distribution. With the new organisation we bring together again people and potential in a joint, dynamic film environment. This enables us to optimise all elements of the moving pictures’ road from idea to audience. We will strengthen one of the most essential assets of Nordisk Film throughout many decades – the unique culture,” says Kenneth D. Plummer.
Kenneth D. Plummer came to Egmont Entertainment and the film world in 1999. Prior to this, he has held leading positions at Disney and Mattel. In recent years Egmont Entertainment has markedly strengthened its profits and at the same time significantly enhanced the position within film rights. This year’s investment in rights is Egmont’s largest ever.
“The aim is to create a framework that ensures the strongest productions and an optimal contact to the audience. We shall continue to work on effectiveness, and the most important challenge is to strengthen our position on the Nordic home market. We will increase the number of feature films, and we will strengthen our position in TV production,” says Kenneth D. Plummer and adds that the headquarters of Nordisk Film will still be the film village with the red studios in Valby. And we are looking into the possibility of adding a new building allowing us to unite all Danish Nordisk Film employees under one roof, “ says Kenneth D. Plummer.
Further information:
Managing Director Kenneth D. Plummer, phone 36 18 82 00, plummerk@nordiskfilm.com
Søren E. Jakobsen, phone 36 18 82 00, s.jakobsen@nordiskfilm.dk
CEO Steffen Kragh, phone 33 30 52 77, kragh@egmont.com
Download photo of Kenneth D. Plummer
