The current CEO of Jarowskij Finland has landed a similar role at the major production, financing and distribution group Aurora Studios.

Hyytiä who will be joining Aurora Studios November 26, has more than 20 year-experience in the Finnish film & TV industry, as executive producer of more than 300 hours of TV drama such as Elisa Viihde’s Shadow Lines, MTV3/C More’s Maria Kallio, and the kids feature franchise Jill & Joy.

She is taking over from the esteemed Petri Kemppinen who has been steering the group since 2021.

Other corporate changes at Aurora Studios’ include the appointment of seasoned writer/producer Aleksi Bardy as Head of Productions for Aurora Studios’ in-house projects, Niki Leskinen as Head of Co-Productions and of the Finnish Impact Film Fund (FIFF), Joni Ihantola as Chief Financial Officer, Hanna Lajunen as Head of Distribution and Essi Kivitie as COO.

Owned by the leading publishing house Otava, the family offices of private equity veterans Ari Lahti and Ari Tolppanen, and the executive board, fast-expanding Aurora Studios has become in three years one of Finland’s biggest content-driven groups with international ambitions.

Active across development, financing, production of films and series, as well as distribution through its own label and Cinemanse arthouse brand, the group acquired in 2021 the production house Helsinki-filmi headed by Aleksi Bardy, and took a minority share in the animation studios Anima Vitae.

Commenting on the group’s new leadership, Ari Tolpanen, Aurora Studios’ Chairman of the Board said he is pleased to have an experienced film and television professional like Hyytiä to lead the growth and internationalisation of Aurora Studios.

Speaking to us, Leskinen also said he looks forward to working with Aurora Studios' new CEO to achieve the company's bigger international ambitions. "The Finnish film industry is brimming with exceptionally talented professionals, and we are eager to provide them with opportunities to showcase their talent to a broader audience. This will be achieved by organically generating and participating in international co-productions as financiers and co-producers."

Leskinen cites Mikko Makela's upcoming project Sebastian and Charlie McDowell's The Summer Book starring Glenn Close as "perfect examples fo this strategy". "In both films, FIFF acted as an equity investor, while Aurora's subsidiary, Helsinki-filmi, functioned as a co-producer. Most importantly, both films feature remarkable talent from both Finland and abroad. Going forward, you can expect to see many more international features and series that combine FIFF's financing, Aurora's co-production, and the wonderful talent of Finland," he said.

So far, Aurora Studios has produced or co-produced 12 films and 11 drama series, such as Aku Louhimies’The Unknown Soldier, the series Mobile 101 and Pamela Tola’s film The Worst Idea Ever, while FIFF worth €13.5 million has invested so far in 19 films and series.