Hartikainen will be responsible for Yellow Film & TV’s domestic and Nordic content, reporting to CEO Olli Haikka. He joins the company from the Finnish broadcaster MTV where he held the position of Head of Drama and Development.

Under his six-year tenure at MTV, he executive produced more than 50 drama series or new seasons, such as Reindeer Mafia, and the hit comedy Sunday Lunch. Upcoming event series to his credit include the disaster drama Estonia and Aku Louhimies’ Conflict.

At his former job at Nelonen, he secured volume deals with Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, NBC Universal and CBS. His experience covers also theatrical distribution, through Nordisk Film, 20th Fox International and SF Studios.

“Jani's proficiency in content packaging and his Nordic connections immediately provide us with invaluable insights, benefiting both Yellow and our partners,” said Haikka. “His expertise in TV drama, theatrical and filmed entertainment reinforces our standing and will enable me to focus on the company's accelerated international growth and our English-language initiatives with our team in our Ireland office, led by Jackie Larkin.”

Other new hire at Yellow Film & TV include Eveliina Mauno, development producer, while Janne Lähteenmäki has been promoted to junior producer, reporting to Head of Drama Lotta Westerberg.

Lähteenmäki will be producing the second season of the Lapland-set crime procedural 66 North Precinct. Created by Haikka, with Olli Tola and author Timo Varpio, season 1 premiered on the Finnish pubcaster Yle last March. Federation handles sales.