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FremantleMedia hires Petter Testmann-Koch for Norway office
MUMBAI: It was very recently that FremantleMedia International announced few huge deals in the Asian region. Now, the company that is one of the largest creators, producers and distributors of television brands in the world, is expanding its operations in the Norway region. The company announced the opening of a production operation in Oslo Norway, and has also appointment Petter Testmann-Koch, a leading Norwegian producer as FremantleMedia Norge Managing Director.
Testmann-Koch will set up the office and build the production team. He will be responsible for the day to day management of the operation and driving the strategic vision of the business. He will focus on developing quality content for the Norwegian market across all platforms, selling FremantleMedia formats in Norway and working closely with FremantleMedia’s International production, licensing and sales operations.
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Testmann-Koch will report to Daniela Matei, CEO Nordics, Eastern Europe and Balkans (NOREEBA), and sit on the NOREEBA senior management team.
Prior to joining FremantleMedia, Testmann-Koch was working with Nordisk Film TV as CCO & Executive Producer where he had overall creative responsibility for development and production as well as co-managing format acquisitions and sales.
He has been credited for producing shows like 71 Degrees North, Home of the Year, Celebrity Cook Off and The Voice of Norway. Prior to this, he worked as a producer/director at Dinamo Story (Eyeworks Dinamo) for five years producing large scale event shows such as Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy), Amanda (Norwegian Oscar), Gullruten (Norwegian Emmy), and Eurovision Song Contest Countdown. Testmann-Koch began his career as a freelance broadcast journalist and went on to work for several production companies as a producer/director including Nordisk Film, Global TV Production Oslo and Allegro Film, before founding his own production company, Potato.
Testmann-Koch takes up his post in Spring 2014.
FremantleMedia also recently announced the appointment of Anne Brostrom as Managing Director, Blu, FremantleMedia’s Danish production arm. The company also acquired a majority stake (51 per cent) in Miso Film, a leading Danish scripted production company.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
