Jan David Frouman, Chairman & CEO of Red Arrow Studios, and a member of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE’s Executive Board, has decided to leave both posts when his current management contract concludes at the end of February 2019 after 15 years with ProSiebenSat.1. Frouman will be succeeded by James Baker, who has been appointed President & COO of Red Arrow Studios, the global production network of ProSiebenSat.1. Baker, who is currently Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Red Arrow Studios, will report directly to Max Conze, CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE.
“Red Arrow Studios is an important part of ProSiebenSat.1, and I would like to thank Jan for successfully building and leading the group from the start. I’m also very pleased that we’ve been able to promote James Baker to lead the company going forward. He knows Red Arrow inside and out, and together we will expand our production footprint, further strengthen the operational performance of the Red Arrow companies and particularly develop a broader German content production ecosystem,” said Max Conze.
In his new role, Baker will manage the 20 production companies that are part of Red Arrow Studios’ global network, take responsibility for Red Arrow’s strategic expansion initiatives and work closely with Wolfgang Link, Chief Content & Channel Officer, and Henrik Pabst, Chief Commercial Officer (as of January 2019), at ProSiebenSat.1’s Entertainment segment. Bo Stehmeier, President of Red Arrow Studios International as of January 2019, will report to Baker and oversee TV distributor Red Arrow Studios International and US independent film distributor Gravitas Ventures. Reza Izad, CEO of Studio71, will continue to lead the global multi-platform company and report directly to Conze. Baker and Izad will cooperate closely to further increase collaboration between Studio71 and Red Arrow’s production companies, and rapidly develop and scale the global digital video business.
In order to increase Red Arrow’s German production footprint and to further leverage synergies with ProSiebenSat.1’s Entertainment business, a newly created steering board will ensure close collaboration and creative exchange. In this board, Wolfgang Link and Henrik Pabst will work alongside Red Arrow executives James Baker, Michael Schmidt (CCO), Raimo Reese (CFO), Martin Metzger (Chief Legal & Business Affairs Officer), as well as Reza Izad.
Werner Brandt, Supervisory Board Chairman of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, said: “I would like to thank Jan Frouman sincerely for his outstanding work during the last 15 years. He has built Red Arrow from scratch into a leading independent production group, and always advanced the company’s content production footprint with passion and dedication. We all wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors.”
Jan Frouman: “My time with ProSiebenSat.1 was a defining life experience. Professionally. Culturally. Socially. I have worked with talented colleagues around the world. My decision to leave wasn’t made lightly. But I’m simply ready for a new chapter. James has been a part of the success story since the early days. Red Arrow is in very good hands.”
James Baker joined Red Arrow in 2011. Prior to joining the company, Baker spent 11 years at Sky. After leaving Sky in 2007, he worked with media private equity group Fleming Media before joining Current TV, Al Gore’s groundbreaking web and TV network, as UK General Manager.
Jan Frouman joined ProSiebenSat.1 in January 2004 following the acquisition led by Haim Saban, for whom Frouman worked in Los Angeles. Prior to launching and becoming Chairman & CEO of Red Arrow Studios in 2010, Frouman held several senior corporate positions within ProSiebenSat.1. As of March 1, 2016, Frouman has been part of the ProSiebenSat.1 Executive Board.