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Bevy of Book Prizes

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Bonnier authors did well in the most prestigious Scandinavian book awards this year.

Lina Wolff Nina Burton Augustpriset 2016

As fall rolls around, the major Scandinavian book prizes announce their short lists, and in November, the winners are announced with great fanfare. This year, Bonnier authors did well in Sweden and Norway, winning in the August Prize and the Brage Prize, as well as the Nordic Council Literature Prize.

Yesterday, the August Prize awards were given out, with Bonnier authors winning two of the three main categories: Lina Wolff won with her book De polyglotta älskarna (The Polyglot Lovers) published by Albert Bonniers Förlag the Best Swedish Fiction Book of the Year and Nina Burton won with her book Gutenberggalaxens nova (The Gutenberg Galaxy's Nova) for Best Swedish Non-Fiction Book of the Year.

Last week, the Brage Prizes were awarded in Norway, and publisher Cappelen Damm author Gudny Ingebjørg Hagen and illustrator Malgorzata Piotrowska won in the Children's and Young Adult category for Fest og feiring (Party and Celebration.)


Katarina FrostensonEarlier in November, the Nordic Council gave out its annual awards, including its prestigious literature award. This year the winner was Swedish poet Katarina Frostenson for her book Sånger och formler (Songs and Formulas), published by Wahlström & Widstrand.

 


Non-Silence Generation

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Seminar celebrating 250 years of press freedom in Sweden.

Panel with Peter Wolodarski, Pia Rehnqvist, Karin Olsson, Max Karlsson and Bilan Osman

On Dec. 2, 1766, the Swedish Parliament passed the world's first freedom of press law. In celebration, the Bonnier Family Foundation and the Raoul Wallenberg Academy held a morning seminar, "Non-Silence Generation," on what press freedom means today. 

The seminar featured a panel discussion with Peter Wolodarski, Editor-in-Chief for Dagens Nyheter; Pia Rehnqvist, Editor-in-Chief for Sydsvenskan; Bilan Osman, journalist and speaker from Expo; Max Karlsson, board member from non-profit youth organization Fler Unga. The discussion was moderated by Karin Olsson, Culture Editor for Expressen.

The seminar kicked off with a presentation from Kim Waller, Ungdomar.se and concluded with a performance byartist and poet Daniel Boyacioglu.

You can watch a video of the entire conference here (in Swedish): 

http://www.expressen.se/tv/kultur/bonnier-seminarium-tryckfriheten-250-ar/

 

Startup Tour

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The search for the next Swedish unicorn, with Di Digital.

Di Digital Startup Tour

On Dec. 8 in Stockholm, Di Digital Startup Tour ended with a winner: medtech company Amra. The Startup Tour, which was held in October and November in five Swedish cities, gave 35 companies the chance to pitch their ideas to ultimately win SEK 1 million in advertising from Bonnier, among other prizes.

“It’s our search for the next Swedish unicorn,” says Jonas Leijonhuvud, reporter for Di Digital and co-host of the events. “We visited Umeå, Linköping, Göteborg, Malmö and Stockholm so that young startups could pitch their business ideas to a heavyweight jury of Sweden’s top venture capital firms. It’s a mix of Shark Tank and Idol– for the tech sector.”

Over a hundred companies applied and of the 35 who ended up pitching – seven in each locale – five made it to the final on Dec. 8 in Stockholm.

The aim of the initiative is to support Dagens industri’s goal to be the most important forum for the tech sector. The editorial journalism of digital.di.se, the popular podcast Digitalpodden along with the business daily newspaper Dagens industri are key elements in meeting the goal. “Just as important are our events, including the Startup Tour as a flagship and our open, user-generated database Nordic Tech List, which brings together founders, investors and companies within the Swedish startup scene.

The response to the Startup Tour has been fantastic, says Leijonhuvud, with over a thousand in total people coming to watch the pitches, which has even generated a lot of news and material for the Digitalpodden postcast. “We’ve gotten to know a lot of startup companies, venture capital companies and gotten closer to the tech world in Umeå, Linköping, Göteborg and Malmö,” he says. “In addition, we’ve managed to make a profit already in the first year thanks to our enthusiastic partners. We’ll be growing and plan to be bigger next year, with more events and an even bigger Startup Tour!”

You can see the event here (the video is in English).

 

Virtual Reality With Dagens Nyheter

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Sweden's top daily launches dn.se/vr, plus a new partnership with Google.

Follow to Ukraine with award-winning photographer Paul Hansen

On Dec. 20, daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter will launch a new initiative providing 360 video for readers: dn.se/vr. And in Google's first Scandinavian VR partnership, the paper will distribute 10,000 Google Cardboard VR viewers to readers in conjunction with the launch.

"We want to take the public to places they normally wouldn't be able to go, showing them the whole picture in a new storytelling format," says Martin Jönsson, head of editorial development at Dagens Nyheter and project manager for the initiative. "It's an incredibly exciting format to work with and to experience." 

The site will launch with four features where readers can follow along to: war-torn Ukraine; a trip on the yet-to-be-opened Citybanan commuter train line; behind the scenes and onstage with popstars Rebecca & Fiona; plus meditation in one of the world's most beautiful spots.

 

New Director for Bonniers Konsthall

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Magnus af Petersens to succeed Sara Arrhenius, starting April 1, 2017.

Magnus af Petersens, new director of Bonniers Konsthall

Magnus af Petersens has been appointed the new director of Bonniers Konsthall, the Stockholm art museum, replacing Sara Arrhenius, who has held the position since the Konsthall first opened in 2006 and this spring becomes vice chancellor of the Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm. Af Petersens officially assumes the role on April 1, 2017.

Af Petersens most recently held the position of head of exhibitions and collections at Moderna Museet, the contemporary art museum in Stockholm. Prior to that, he served as chief curator of Whitechapel Gallery, London, in addition to curating The Nordic Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2011.

"Bonniers Konsthall is primarily an establishment for contemporary art, where artists are provided with the incredible opportunity to produce new works," says af Petersens. "Very few institutions have the same capacity to react quite as quickly and place international art in a national context. This is what sets Bonniers Konsthall apart from the rest. It will be fantastically fun to work with the Bonniers Konsthall team."

Bonniers Konsthall was established by the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation, which Jeanette Bonnier founded in 1985 in memory of her daughter Maria. Bonniers Konsthall has since served as home of the foundation’s annual grant.

Pontus Bonnier, Chair of the Board of Bonniers Konsthall, along with the entire board, reached a unanimous decision to choose af Petersens for this role.

"We are delighted to entrust Magnus af Petersens with the role of further developing Bonniers Konsthall," says Pontus Bonnier. "With an international network, extensive relationships with artists and the public, and a wealth of experience managing exhibitions and creating museum programs, we feel he is well qualified. Above all, we believe that the combination of Magnus’ experience of and passion for contemporary art will infuse Bonniers Konsthall with an exciting energy and vitality."

Bonniers Konsthall, located in central Stockholm, is a place for Swedish and international contemporary art. Since first opening its doors in 2006, Bonniers Konsthall has exhibited and discussed art from the world over. The current exhibition, Insomnia, addresses sleeplessness as a cultural symptom.

 

Amelia Adamo Moves On

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After 29 years at Bonnier, Swedish magazine queen Amelia Adamo will leave the company weeks before her 70th birthday. But she'll still keep a hand in.

Amelia Adamo

Amelia Adamo started as a reporter at Swedish women's magazine Svensk Damtidning in 1975, and since then she's had a string of successes. She was managing editor for VeckoRevyn weekly magazine, features editor at Swedish daily Aftonbladet, and started up three magazines for Bonnier Tidskrifter: the eponymous Amelia, Tara and M-magasin, where she's worked as editor-in-chief for the past ten years. 

"I've said that when I turn 70, I'll quit," says Adamo. "It feels really good. My entire life has mostly been about work, I've had 60-hour weeks. I leave behind me so much joy and exciting events. I'm leaving when things are at their best and my timing has been carefully chosen."

Adamo will continue to work with M-magasin on a freelance basis and remains on the board of directors for Bonnier Tidskrifter.

During her extensive years in journalism, the biggest lesson she's learned is that creativity requires planning, she says.

"To put out a newsworthy and exciting magazine, you need to have a well-planned foundation," Adamo says. "Then the ability to make changes is much greater. The success of my magazines has been based on my knowledge of the target audience, and being able to surprise them. You can't give audiences what they want, that's just boring. You have to give them what they didn't realize they wanted."

Adamo knows her audiences well because she's a social scientist from the beginning. "I've always been genuine and shamelessly curious. I've looked at how people live, asked what they talk about at girls' night out, stared at them in the sauna and seen their wrinkles. Everyone says they care about their readers, but what you need to know is what your readers need. What need does my magazine fulfill? And you have to be on your toes, because audiences change their lifestyles and behavior all the time."

For those starting their careers now, Adamo has advice: Don't be too happy, always be a little dissatisfied with what you do. And keep your feelers out beyond your magazine and know what's happening there.

 

New Partnership for SF Studios

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SF Studios enters a strategic co-financing partnership with Anton Corp for its international expansion.

SF Studios

SF Studios and European content company Anton Corp have entered a strategic partnership with the aim to co-finance SF Studios’ English-language international productions.

Under the partnership, films will be produced by SF Studios, sold internationally by SF Studios in consultation with Anton Corp, and co-financed by both parties. The first film will be announced shortly.

The partnership is an important milestone in SF Studios’ strategy to take a stronger position on the international film market with an ambition to produce a number of high quality feature films and TV series based on Nordic intellectual properties with top Nordic talents such as Daniel Espinosa (Life, Child 44, Safe House), Babak Najafi (London has fallen, Easy Money II) and Jens Jonsson (Easy Money III: Life Deluxe, The King of Ping Pong), with whom projects are currently in development.

“We are very happy to be working closely with Anton Corp, Sebastien Raybaud, Harold van Lier and the rest of the team, as they bring to the venture a vast experience of co-financing international productions as well as a deep knowledge of international markets. With our ambitious international strategy, this partnership is an important step on our way to expand our business outside the Nordic territories,” says Frida Westerberg, Deputy CEO and COO at SF Studios.

 

Bonnier Acquires Fastighetsnytt

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Bonnier has acquired Fastighetsnytt Förlags AB, Sweden’s leading media and conference company within the real estate and construction sector, with powerful brands and services such as Business Arena, Fastighetsnytt and Fastighetsjobb. Founders Johan and Henrik Zetterstedt will continue to run the company.

Johan Zetterstedt, Mikael Nestius and Henrik Zetterstedt

Fastighetsnytt is a knowledge- and market-leader within media and forums for issues around real estate and construction. From the original trade newspaper, the company has developed into a wide-ranging and profitable niche media company. Today, the forum Business Arena accounts for the majority of the company’s revenues. With annual conferences in Stockholm, Göteborg, Malmö, Umeå as well as during Almedalen Week in Visby, Business Arena is the Swedish real estate industry’s most important forum.

“It’s exciting to be bringing this well-run company into the Bonnier fold,” says Mikael Nestius, CEO for Bonnier Business Media. “Founders Johan and Henrik Zetterstedt have, with their deep knowledge of the industry and their business savvy, created media and arenas that are essential for decisionmakers in Swedish real estate and unique in the Swedish media market when it comes to scope, turnover and profitability.”

“This deal gives us new possibilities to consolidate and develop our entire business and our concepts while maintaining and increasing business value for the entire real estate and construction industry,” says Johan Zetterstedt. “We have a long-term commitment to the company and look forward to developing and sharing our entrepreneurial spirit within the new organization. Which is why Henrik and I will continue to be active in the company’s strategic development, together with the staff and new owners.”

Fastighetsnytt will be part of Bonnier’s Swedish business-to-business operations within the business area Bonnier News, which includes business and trade media Dagens industri, Dagens Medicin, Veckans Affärer and Resumé.

“With the strong brands Bonnier has, we get the opportunity to broaden our offering and our target audience while increasing the business value for our partners and their customers,” says Henrik Zetterstedt.

“Along with the wonderful business Fastighetsnytt is in and of itself, there is also huge potential to develop new business together with business daily Dagens industri and our other trade media,” says Anders Eriksson, head of the business area Bonnier News. “I’m convinced that Bonnier’s businesses are strengthened with this acquisition, not least from Fastighetsnytt’s transformation from a traditional trade magazine to an innovative media player that, above all, has taken the conference business to a whole new level.”

“With its long history and strong foundation in the Swedish business community, we see Bonnier as an excellent owner for Fastighetsnytt and Business Arena, which can then be developed to new levels,” says Johan Zetterstedt. “That Bonnier is family owned, privately held and has a strong position in many industries and countries is an incredible strength for us, our staff and our customers.”

 


Bonnier Invests in KnowledgeFox

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The Austrian company is a pioneer in MicroLearning. 

Under a recently signed agreement, Bonnier Business to Business is investing in Austrian learning and knowledge media company KnowledgeFox. The company offers MicroLearning, a solution for sustainable learning in small steps that works with all digital communication devices. Currently, KnowledgeFox has over 50 partners in 23 countries around the world. 

“The KnowledgeFox acquisition is one step in the Bonnier Business to Business strategic plan to strengthen our offering to B2B customers in the field of knowledge development,” says Karmo Kaas-Lutsberg, head of Bonnier Business to Business. “We serve our customers in different niches with various training tools and materials both offline and digitally. The KnowledgeFox platform and MicroLearning-based content creation will enable Bonnier Business to Business to add an innovative way of knowledge development for our existing and new customers.”

 

AMC to Acquire Nordic Cinema Group – Bonnier Sells Minority Stake

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AMC Theatres, the world’s leading cinema company, is acquiring Nordic Cinema Group, which includes Swedish cinema chain SF Bio. 

AMC is acquiring the Nordic Cinema Group (NCG) from Bridgepoint and Bonnier Holding. In conjunction with the change in ownership, Bonnier Holding is selling its 30 percent stake in the company for SEK 1.6 billion.

“Through its successful and substantial investments in better cinema experiences, the Nordic Cinema Group has improved profitability and contributed to the cinema’s strong position in Sweden. Now the company will have a new owner with a successful nearly 100-year history in the cinema industry,” says Erik Haegerstrand, CEO, Bonnier Holding.

“For Bonnier, the increased value achieved by the Nordic Cinema Group contributes to our financial strength, and provide more room to maneuver in the future. Growth in recent years shows that the cinema industry continues to be strong, and we believe cinemas will remain an important arena for film. Through SF Studios, the Nordic region’s leading production and distribution company, Bonnier will continue to be heavily involved in the Swedish film industry.”

The Nordic Cinema Group is the Nordic and Baltic region’s leading cinema company with 68 wholly owned and 50 partially owned cinemas in Sweden, Finland, Norway and the Baltic region. The company was formed in March 2013 in a deal where Bonnier-owned SF Bio merged with Ratos-owned Finnkino. In 2015, Ratos sold its majority stake to Bridgepoint.

AMC Theatres opened its first cinema in Kansas City in 1920, and is the world’s largest and leading cinema company. Through the acquisition of the British Odeon Cinemas Group, AMC has a significant presence in the European market, with 244 cinemas in the U.K., Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Austria and Portugal.

The Nordic Cinema Group will be part of Odeon Cinemas, which comprises AMC’s European operations. The head office will remain in Stockholm under the leadership of CEO Jan Bernhardsson.

The transaction is conditional upon antitrust clearance by the European Commission, which is expected to be received in the first half of 2017.

Bonnier Holding is the parent company for Bonnier’s operations, and includes media group Bonnier AB, real estate group Bonnier Fastigheter and other investments.

 

Bonnier Remains Majority Owner of Børsen – JP/Politikens Hus Acquires 49.9 Percent

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Bonnier AB and JP/Politikens Hus have signed a contract for common ownership of Denmark’s leading business daily, Børsen. Following the deal, Bonnier will own 50.1 percent and JP/Politikens Hus 49.9 percent.

Børsen building

In January 2016, Danish publisher JP/Politikens Hus signed an agreement to acquire leading Danish business daily Børsen from Bonnier. Following objections by the Danish competition authorities, the two companies have decided on a new deal where Bonnier will sell a minority stake. The agreement is based on the same valuation of Børsen in the original deal, which means that JP/Politkens Hus will acquire 49.9 percent of the paper for DKK 400 million.

“We’ve ended up with a very good deal for Bonnier,” says Tomas Franzén, CEO for Bonnier. “When we saw that the Danish competition authorities had objections to the sale, we made a decision together with JP/Politikens Hus to take a step back in order to find the best way forward for us, for them and for Børsen. The result is that we continue as majority owners and with control over a very successful and well-positioned media company, while the deal gives us increased financial resources of some SEK 500 million. It gives us extra playing room to continue investing in line with our strategy.”

Børsen is Denmark’s leading business daily and a platform for business and finance news. The company includes Børsen Associated Media (BAM) which includes the Danish medical journal Dagens Medicin, an e-learning business and digital management handbooks.

 

Clio Prep Course Launches

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Free digital subject portal from Bonnier Education supports students newly arrived to Sweden.

Clio Prep Course

Some 50,000 kids of school age arrived in Sweden in 2015. Which has put huge demands on schools and teachers. To ease the way into both schools and Swedish society, Bonnier Education has launched a free digital subject portal for the growing number of prep courses for newly arrived students.

Many people have sought out a new life in Northern Europe, not least in Sweden, which has created a number of challenges. According to the Swedish National Agency for Education's analysis of the Swedish Migration Agency's statistics* some 71,000 children and teens arrived in Sweden during 2015, of which more than 50,000 are of school age.

The large number of kids has put pressure on Swedish schools and teachers. There is a big shortage of trained teachers of Swedish as a second language, and many schools are having difficulty meeting the needs of the newly arrived students.

Unique Possibilities With a Digital Format

Many teachers are fighting to find materials for the complex target audience that the newly arrived students represent, and that's exactly what Bonnier Education aims to help with, via a new subject portal. 

"One of the biggest challenges in prep classes is the huge diversity among students when it comes to language ability and school background, and this is where a digital subject portal provides many advantages," says Angelica Hedin, chief editor at Bonnier Education.

"The portal provides unique opportunities to differentiate instruction compared with using traditional textbooks. With one click, you can have the same material presented in different levels of difficulty, have a text read aloud and use study guides in several languages. Furthermore, the portal is updated continually by Bonnier Education's editorial team of teachers, so the material is always up to date." 

Welcome to Sweden!

"Clio Föreberedelseklass - Clio Prep Course - caters primarily to newly arrived students in grades four to nine as well as language introduction courses that prepare students for secondary schools. With help from texts on two different levels, study guides in different languages and interactive activities, students get opportunities to develop their Swedish language skills," says Hedin.

"The focus of the prep courses is to support students' language development, but also to give students insights into Swedish culture and knowledge of different school subjects. That's why the portal includes an introduction to Swedish society, Välkommen hit!, as well as texts and activities the give students the chance to develop  their knowledge of different school subjects."

Free for Schools

Bonnier Education has developed Clio Förberedelseklass with support from Bonnier AB, which has a majority stake in the company.

"This is a shared task for Sweden, to give all children the foundation for succeeding in school," says Tomas Franzén, CEO for Bonnier AB. "We see that there is a huge challenge for both kids and teachers. And an opportunity for us to contribute something concrete to society. I'm personally extremely proud that we've developed the Clio Förberedelseklass that is being made available for free to all Swedish teachers."

Clio Förberedelseklass - Clio Prep Course - can be used free by teachers and students in Sweden's roughly 7,000 elementary and secondary schools. Already prior to launch, more than 600 teachers applied to test Clio Förberedelseklass. The new subject portal is available at www.clioonline.se/forberedelseklass.

Clio Förberedelseklass is funded under the Bonnier Social Impact program, an initiative for companies within Bonnier to receive financing by parent company Bonnier AB for projects that are closely linked to the business and have a clear social benefit.


 

Bonnier Tidskrifter and Tailsweep Merge

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The Swedish magazine publisher and influencer network join forces. 

Bonnier combines forces with Swedish magazine publisher Bonnier Tidskrifter and influencer network Tailsweep combining to create the biggest influencer network in the Nordic region.

Tailsweep has a network with 190 independent influencers, the biggest of its kind in Sweden, focused on blogs, Instagram, Facebook and other social media. Bonnier Tidskrifter has some 60 influencers connected to its various well-known brands.

"We love influencers, so Tailsweep and Bonnier Tidskrifter is a match made in heaven," says Frid Boisen, head of digital for Bonnier Tidskrifter. "Not only can we offer our advertisers a new unique cooperation, even our influencers get a new career push."

 

Verslo Žinios and Lexnet

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The Lithuanian integrated information system Lexnet, with its legal information retrieval system Infolex, joins up with top business daily Verslo Žinios.

Infolex Verslo Zinios logos

Bonnier Business Press AB, the Swedish holding company of Lithuanian business daily Verslo Žinios, has acquired a majority interest in legal information services company Lexnet. 

Established in 2005, Lexnet is a leader in the area of integrated information systems for law professionals in Lithuania. It offers the legal information retrieval system Infolex, one of the most widely used tools among legal professionals in Lithuania.

“The acquisition of UAB Lexnet is part of a long-term strategy of UAB Verslo Žinios aimed at providing businesses and other professionals with high value-added information services,” says Ugnius Jankauskas, CEO of Verslo Žinios. “Lexnet is the only company in Lithuania which accumulates and analyses all normative legal information, within the framework of its electronic system Infolex.”

 

Bonnier Award to Marian Männi

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Eesti Ekspress reporter Marian Männi wins the Bonnier Award in Estonia.

Hans-Jacob Bonnier giving the Bonnier Award to Marian Männi (photo Andres Haabu/Äripäev

Estonia's top journalism prize was awarded yesterday to Eesti Ekspress reporter Marian Männi in a ceremony in Tallinn. The prize, now in its 22nd year, is given annually to recognize the best efforts in investigative journalism in Estonia.

Männi won for her exposé of suspicious business activity and lies of the newly appointed Minister of Rural Affairs. Some two and a half weeks later, the Minister resigned.

Along with Männi, there were three finalists: Koit Brinkmann, Äripäev, for his reporting on Tallinn`s waste business, where a group of businessmen stored tens of thousands of tons of garbage on government land without any penalties; Tuuli Jõesaar of Eesti Päevalehtwho discovered that the Veterinary and Food Board allowed sales of Cellfood, a dangerous sulphuric acid dilution; and Tuuli Koch, Risto Berendson and Oliver Kund of Postimees, who exposed a political corruption case with a  well-known businessman who accused politicians of asking for huge bribes.

The award was founded in 1996 by Bonnier, which continues to sponsor the award.

 


New Board Members for SF Studios

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Top executives Maria Curman and Åsa Sjöberg to join the board of film and TV production company SF Studios.

In a move to further strengthen SF Studios’ future operations and activities, media executives Maria Curman and Åsa Sjöberg have been recruited to join the board of directors. Curman will serve as chairman and Sjöberg as board member. 

Both Curman and Sjöberg have long experience in the media industry. They will assume their new roles during the spring 2017.

“It is with great joy that I welcome Maria Curman and Åsa Sjöberg to the board of SF Studios”, says Ulrika Saxon, Bonnier’s representative on the board of directors of SF Studios and CEO at Bonnier Growth Media. “Maria's solid background from top positions within the media industry and her extensive board experience, makes her ideal for the role as chairman. We are also extremely proud to get access to Åsa’s profound knowledge of the industry and her long experience of working with creative talents in environments were content is in focus."

Curman is a board member of Bonnier AB and was the CEO for Bonnier Books. Prior to that, she was CEO at the Swedish public television channel SVT, Bonnier Publishing, Bonnier Education and the publishing house Almqvist & Wiksell. Maria Curman is currently also a board member of Bonnier Books, Cappelen Damm A/S, Apoteket AB and Work For You.

Åsa Sjöberg is director of content at Bonnier Broadcasting and has worked at TV4 since 1999, where she was held positions as commissioning editor and executive producer in the programming department, as well as head of commissioning and director of programs. Prior to that she held positions as editor and producer at Strix Television, and has studied journalism at Stockholm University. She represents the Swedish film and drama industry on the board of the Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Other permanent board members for SF Studios are Saxon, Mikael Lövgren, Peter Fornstam, Håkan Rudels and Anders Rydén. 

 

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