New Top Management for MTV

Today, MTV CEO Jarkko Nordlund, who started in January, announced a range of significant new recruitments and roles that will strengthen MTV’s operations in Finland. One of the key recruits is Discovery Network Sweden’s revenue director and Vice President Sami Vikback, who will become head of the Finnish commercial TV business at MTV.

Vikback’s title will be Vice President Advertising Business and will be responsible for the ad-based TV business, both linear and digital. He comes from Discovery Networks Sweden, where he most recently was responsible for the advertising and distribution business. Prior to that he was CEO for SBS TV Finland, charged with making the business profitable in the Finnish market.

Other recruits for the executive management team include Human Resources Director Manne Tienssu, previously of Nets Group and Finnair; and Financial Director Marina Ruohonen, previously of Avarn Security/G4S and Canal Digital. Other members of the team include Head of Marketing and Communications Director Jere Teutari; Head of Content Marko Karvo; Head of Technology Risto Koivula; and Head of Strategy Anna-Reetta Kangasmaa.

The new organization for MTV is divided into two business areas – commercial TV and pay TV – and has common executive management functions within, for example, content, technology and communication. Local Finnish content will be the focus of its offering to consumers. For example, flagship channel MTV3 will broadcast only Finnish-produced series during prime time. And technology and user experience will be of utmost importance.