Red Arrow International co-MD exiting

Irina Ignatiew-Lemke will exit her post as co-managing director of Red Arrow International, with Henrik Pabst taking on sole responsibility for the Europe-based distributor.

Ignatiew-Lemke (neé Ignatiew) had run the scripted distribution side of Red Arrow International since joining 2012, and was behind the company’s recent Scandi noir coproduction 100 Code. She will leave at the end of this month.

Pabst has taken on her duties, effective immediately, along with his responsibilities in charge of unscripted programming. He will continue to report to Jan Frouman, CEO of Red Arrow International’s parent, Red Arrow Entertainment Group.

“I would like to thank Irina for her many contributions to Red Arrow’s ongoing growth and success and I wish her all the best in her new endeavours,” said Frouman.

“I would also like to congratulate Henrik. Time and time again, he has proven to the entire organisation that he is not only an exceptional sales executive, but also a leader with extraordinary skill, drive and creativity. We could not ask for a more capable executive to lead our distribution business.”

In January, Ignatiew and Pabst were named as co-MDs to succeed Jens Richter, who exited to become CEO of FremantleMedia International.

Red Arrow International has launched shows including 100 Code, Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot, Bosch, Married at First Sight and Video Game High School this year. Under Pabst’s sole guidance, the firm will “continue to expand its team, build its physical presence across key markets and aggressively invest in further ambitious properties from across the industry”, it said today in a statement.

Earlier this year, TBI revealed Pabst and Ignatiew had made a key hire, bringing in Warner Bros. unscripted exec Harry Gamsu as VP, format acquisitions and sales.

Parent Red Arrow Entertainment, part of German media giant ProSiebenSat.1 Media, operates 13 TV production companies spanning across seven countries, multichannel network Collective Digital Studios in LA, and creative partnerships and joint ventures with STV Productions and One Three Media in the UK, Screenz in Israel and Sync Media in Dubai.