MGM hires Rola Bauer for int’l TV

Tandem Communications founder Rola Bauer is joining Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) Television Group as the studio’s president for international television productions.

Rola Bauer

The news comes after French producer-distributor StudioCanal last month took full ownership of its German subsidiary Tandem Productions, buying out Bauer, Jonas Bauer (no relation) and Tim Halkin.

After selling her stake, Bauer – who was a founding partner of Tandem and MD of StudioCanal TV – signed a non-exclusive consulting deal with StudioCanal.

In her new role, she will oversee development, production and coproduction for MGM’s scripted TV content, covering all international markets. She will report to Mark Burnett, chairman of MGM Television Group, and will be based in Munich, splitting her time between the firm’s European and American offices.

Burnett said: “Rola is an important member of the scripted creative community with exceptional taste in material and deep long-term relationships with many talented creators, directors and actors across global television.”

Bauer added: “Mark Burnett has passionately created iconic productions and successfully built companies, which I have always admired. He, along with the leadership at the studio, share a vision to further strengthen the iconic MGM brand internationally, which was very inspiring for me to hear.

“As the world changes and our industry continues to evolve, MGM will build a bridge with coproduction partnerships to further expand on the studio’s ongoing successful global growth.”

During her time with StudioCanal TV, which she founded as Tandem Communications in 1999, she built the company into a full-studio service, covering international coproduction strategy, business affairs, finance and worldwide sales, supporting StudioCanal’s roster of production companies across the global market.

Bauer began her career at Alliance Communications, finishing there as president of its subsidiary Alliance International TV, where she managed several international offices out of its Paris headquarters. She later moved to Munich to work as a buyer at German commercial network ProSiebenSat.1, where she oversaw international series and coproductions.

An early pioneer in international coproduction, Bauer won Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nominations for her work producing 2010 miniseries The Pillars of the Earth and a Primetime Emmy nomination for producing 2004 TV movie The Last Dragon.