Eccho Rights founder af Malmborg steps down as CEO following NTM takeover

Eccho Rights co-founder Fredrik af Malmborg is leaving his role as CEO of the Scandinavia-based distributor with immediate effect.

Fredrik af Malmborg

The move follows Germany’s Night Train Media (NTM)’s acquisition of a majority stake in the business last year.

Herbert L Kloiber, chairman of the Eccho Rights board and CEO of parent NTM, will assume the role on an interim basis as the overall integration of the group continues.

Kloiber said: “I would like to express our profound gratitude to Fredrik. His vision and determination have been the driving force behind Eccho Rights’ reputation and success, particularly in building a vast content catalogue and a trusted brand for Turkish drama series around the world.”

Af Malmborg, alongside business partner Nicola Söderlund, founded Sparks Network in 2004. The company became Eccho Rights in 2012.

The distributor now represents more than 7,000 hours of international television drama, licensing in excess of 17,000 hours annually from its offices in Stockholm, London, Istanbul and Madrid.

As part of the changes in leadership structure at Eccho Rights, Oskar Malmquist, head of business affairs since 2019, has been promoted to chief operations officer.

Adam Barth, meanwhile, will be joining NTM’s content team, to solidify an already collaborative effort across the group. Barth will now also lead the sales team for English-language content under his new title of director of coproductions and distribution.

Handan Özkubat will continue as director of Turkish Drama.

All distribution activity continues under the Eccho Rights banner, with all Eccho sales executives unchanged, the company said today.