BBC Studios Nordic Production has named new leaders in Denmark and Norway, with Daniel Svarts exiting.
Jens Villebro will become Managing Director in Denmark, with Mirja Minjares taking on the same role in Norway. Reality TV expert Hans Lukas has also been hired as Head of Development in Norway, and begin his role on January 1.
BBC Studios is also searching for a Programme Director, who will work with Villebro, who will remain in his current role as Nordic COO alongside CFO Kent Pedersen.
Last month, Svarts announced he was leaving. He joined the BBC’s commercial arm as regional Managing Director of BBC Studios Nordic Production after the BBC acquired Scandinavian production house STV in 2023. He is considered to have played a significant role in establishing BBC Studios’ Danish production division and building out the wider business.
Minjares is promoted from Head of Entertainment, effective December 1. She was only hired in May this year, but has taken a central role in shaping creative output since then. We’ve reached out to BBC Studios to confirm the status of Benedikte Minos, the former Managing Director in Norway.
“These appointments reflect our commitment to nurturing team members as well as investing in growing our three local [Nordic] production businesses,” said Jacob De Boer, Executive Vice President, Global Production at BBC Studios.
BBC Studios Nordic Production’s slate includes Verdens Verste Publikum (Silence is Golden), which will launch on Norwegian pubcaster NRK in early 2026. Pre-production for “an ambitious new reality series” for the same broadcaster has also begun ahead of production in May 2026. In Denmark, youth drama Klassen – The First Years has been recommissioned for new season.
