Metronome names interim Finn MDs

Shine Group has moved swiftly to fill the vacant spot at the top of its Metronome Film & Television division in Finland.

Mika Toivainen and Tarja Pääkkönen will take over as interim joint MDs with immediate effect following Milla Bruneau’s exit for rival Yellow Film & TV.

Toivainen has been financial manager at the Metronome Group – whose operations also span Sweden, Norway and Denmark – for the past six months.

He was previously finance manager for the US Department of State at the Embassy in Helsinki.

Pääkkönen’s been with Metronome rather longer, appointed head of sales and exec producer six years ago.

Bruneau’s leaving at the end of this month and starting at Yellow in September. Commenting on her resignation, Metronome Group chief financial officer Bertil Rosenlund, thanked her for her achievements, adding: “We wish her all the best in new challenges to come.”

Gary Carter, the former FremantleMedia exec, who joined Shine as chairman for Northern Europe three months ago, said of the Toivainen and Pääkkönen’s temporary appointments: “I have great confidence in their ability to lead the company in this period.”

There was no word on a replacement for Metronome Finland head of development Topi Alto, who left the firm earlier this week to join rival compatriot producer Aito Media.

UPDATE: Carter told C21 he was in no rush to replace Alto. “Obviously now I’ve appointed the interim management I’ll be talking to them about the future. There is no particular push to replace anybody at the moment, I’m waiting to see what the new team wants to do. It’s a case of getting their feet under the table,” he said.

Additional reporting by Clive Whittingham.