Autentic GM Hufnagel exits

Anne Hufnagel is leaving her role as general manager of factual-focused German sales firm Autentic Distribution to pursue new challenges.

Anne Hufnagel

Hufnagel will be replaced on an interim basis by the former head of BBC Worldwide Germany, Isabelle Helle, who has been running a consultancy business in Cologne.

Patrick Hörl, MD of Autentic, said: “With her charisma and energy, Anne made Autentic Distribution what it is today.

“I am very thankful for what she has done in building the company and putting together a powerful team, for which many may envy us who are dedicating themselves on a daily basis to build opportunities for documentaries and reports to find the international audience they deserve.”

The company said Hufnagel would leave in the middle of this year to look at opportunities outside of content sales.

Hufnagel added: “I would like to thank Patrick Hörl and Autentic for an exciting five years. We have launched Autentic Distribution and made it to a pertinent player in the market.”

Autentic was founded as a joint venture between Beta Film and Patrick Hörl in 2008. Autentic Distribution was founded five years ago as a joint venture between the Munich-based firm and pubcaster WDR.

Autentic took whole ownership of the sales arm in January last year, although it remains the exclusive distributor of WDR’s documentaries.