ITV Studios appoints new Silverback chief

ITV Studios has appointed Eyeworks executive Hans Engholm as chief executive of Silverback, the broadcaster's Scandinavian production business.

Engholm co-founded independent production company Produktionsbolaget, later selling the company to Eyeworks in 2005 and becoming creative director of the studio, overseeing productions such as the Swedish version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

He was previously head of entertainment at Meter Films & TV in Stockholm and head of TV business at GE Television in Gothenburg. He also served as an executive producer and director of the entertainment department at TV4 in Sweden.

Reporting to ITV Studios managing director Kevin Lygo, Engholm will now oversee the Silverback production business, which ITV acquired in 2008 in a £14m deal. He will be based in Stockholm.

"A significant part of the ongoing ITV Transformation Plan is to produce more of our own shows internationally," said Lygo.

"We are very pleased to welcome Hans to this important role at Silverback. He is highly regarded within Scandinavia for his creative and innovative approach and we're confident he'll make the most of UK success to gain commissions for ITVS formats in the territory.

"Equally we look forward to him pitching original formats from Scandinavia back to us in the UK and our studio production network in other parts of the world."

Engholm added: "I am delighted to be joining ITV Studios just as they are entering a very exciting time for the global business and I look forward to working with the team in Scandinavia to take the next important steps for Silverback."

Veronica Sundin, who has been acting chief executive at Silverback, will revert to her previous position of chief operating officer when Engholm joins the company.

ITV Studios saw its external revenue rise 7% to £64m the first quarter of 2011, but the division's internal revenue was down from £73m at the same time last year to £68m.