SVT drama chief joins Pinewood TV

Swedish pubcaster SVT’s drama chief is joining the fledgling London-based outfit Pinewood Television to oversee its coproduction strategy.

Christian Wikander has been named coproduction director at the prodco, which is part of British studios company Pinewood Group.

He will report to Pinewood TV creative director Helen Gregory, who joined the establish the division last year after co-creating Shonda Rhimes’ ABC drama The Catch.

The role will see Wikander devising a coproduction strategy outside the UK working with prodcos, broadcasters and OTT providers to develop, finance and produce high-end drama series. He will also take projects developed in-house at Pinewood to the international market.

Wikander is credited for bringing series such as The Bridge to SVT television. He also founded Metronome Film & Television, and negotiated its sale to Shine Group (now Endemol Shine Group) in 2009.

Though he was promoted to SVT’s commissioning board in May, he begins his new post in October, and will divide his time between the UK and Sweden.

“Christian’s pedigree in creating and producing such high quality drama and some of Scandinavia’s most popular long-running series as well as his experience in international coproduction is exceptional and I’m thrilled he’s joining the team at Pinewood Television,” said Gregory.

Pinewood TV launched as a joint venture between iconic UK studios Pinewood, which was recently sold to London-based asset manager Aermont Capital, for £323.3 million (US$417.1 million), and StoryFirst PST, a company former CTC Media chief Peter Gerwe owns.