Metronome CEO out as Shine restructures Nordic division

Par Sundberg will leave his position as CEO of Metronome after Shine inaugurated a management restructure at the company, the largest production group in the Nordic region.

Shine, now owned by News Corp., bought Metronome in a SEK719 million (US$88 million) deal in April, 2009. It said today that the CEO role at the Nordic company will cease to exist and those responsibilities will be devolved to managers at the various production entities in the group. These managers will then report directly to Shine corporate HQ in London. The changes take effect in September.

Sundberg, the co-founder of Scandi producer OTW, was recruited to run metronome in May of last year. Shine said the decision followed a review carried out by Sundberg himself.

“Par has been both assiduous and selfless in his support for the creative, talented leaders at each of the Metronome companies and this move is his recommendation to best equip them collectively for continued sustained growth,” said Shine Group Chairman and CEO Elisabeth Murdoch.

Sundberg said: “It has been my brief to ensure these companies can flourish and it has become apparent in recent months that the optimum structure to allow this is one in which the MD’s of each are empowered to lead. These changes I believe allow that opportunity.

Metronome companies: Meter Film and Television, Stockholm-Köpenhamn, Metronome Productions, Metronome Film and Television Oy, Metronome Spartacus AS, Metronome LLC, Rubicon TV, Metrix Interactive AB and Filmlance International, Studios Mekaniken, Studios A/S, Studios AS, Friday TV, Schulmangruppen and Metronome Digital Media.