Christian Wikander, the esteemed Swedish executive who served as the global head of scripted at Banijay for the past nine months, will be stepping down from his role on February 2nd. In a recent interview with Variety, Wikander expressed his sadness about leaving the company, but acknowledged that his departure is a reflection of the current state of the business.
A Time of Correction and Change
Wikander discussed the ongoing changes happening in the industry, explaining that the business has undergone a period of correction that has affected buyers and everyone involved. He mentioned that the industry has experienced a decline in commissions and production volumes, as well as longer timelines from pitch to green light.
Navigating the Scandinavian Crisis
The conversation also touched on the crisis impacting Scandinavian companies, such as Viaplay, which has significantly reduced its output of original scripted content. Wikander noted that global streamers like Netflix have also scaled back their local commissions. However, he expressed confidence in the resilience of the Scandinavian industry, emphasizing that good storytelling will always prevail.
Optimism and the Next Chapter
As Wikander looks ahead to his next career move, he remains optimistic. He will be attending the Goteborg Film Festival later this month, taking in the latest industry developments. His departure from Banijay, which was confirmed in a statement by the company, was met with praise for his contributions. The statement highlighted his role in driving collaboration across Banijay’s 60+ scripted labels and his efforts in strengthening the pipeline of new IP and critically-acclaimed hits.
A Promising Future for Banijay
While the role of global head of scripted is being reviewed, the existing team will report to Chief Business Officer Frédéric Balmary. Banijay expressed confidence in the team’s ability to continue driving growth in scripted content. The company has experienced significant success in recent years, fueled by mergers and acquisitions and continued investment from streaming platforms. With a robust pipeline in place for 2024, Banijay is poised for continued success.
Christian Wikander’s departure from Banijay marks the end of an era, but it also represents an opportunity for the company to further evolve and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment industry. As we bid farewell to Wikander, we eagerly await the next chapter in his career and the exciting future that lies ahead for Banijay.
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