MTG appoints new Scandi, Viaplay CEOs

There have been wide-ranging management changes at the Modern Times Group as the free and pay TV operator reorganises its business along country lines.

New territory managers positions have been created for Sweden, Denmark and Norway, MTG’s three largest markets.

Anders Jensen takes becomes  CEO of MTG Sweden under the new structure, overseeing all pay and free TV activity in the country. He was previously head of free TV across Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Kim Poder takes the CEO role at MTG Denmark and Trygve Rønningen at MTG Norway.

The streaming and digital side of the business is also being rejigged.

Jonas Karlén (right) will become CEO of streaming service Viaplay, having been in charge of Nordic pay TV since 2013. Viaplay was previously run by MTGx boss and company chief digital officer Rikard Steiber, but as of mid-August, Karlén will assume control. Steiber will remain as MTG’s overall digital boss.

In other changes, Jette Nygaard-Andersen is upped from executive VP to CEO of CEE free-TV and digital, overseeing operations the Baltics, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Also in the CEE region, Marek Singer becomes CEO of MTG’s Prima TV joint venture in the Czech Republic.

MTG told TBI that no staff are leaving the organisation as a result of the changes. Executive VP Jakob Mejlhede retains responsibility for programming and content development, and MTG senior VP, Peter Nørrelund, for sport.

“These changes reflect our desire to capitalise on fast moving consumer trends in our markets, as video viewing is increasingly multi-screen, online and mobile,” said Jørgen Madsen Lindemann (pictured, top), MTG President and CEO.

He added: “Our modern organisation must therefore combine local execution with central Group functions that drive synergies and operational efficiency. The combination of our country organisations, the MTGx digital accelerator, and Nice content businesses is a winning formula.”