As Morgan Habedank steps into his new role as Chief Financial Officer at Nordisk Film, he’s focused on continuing to build relationships across the company and keeping the strong momentum in the production and distribution of content and experiences.
”We are in a really good place, and I’m very excited for the future of Nordisk Film.”
Five years after joining Nordisk Film, first as the CFO of Film Distribution and for the past two years as the CFO of Nordisk Games, Morgan Habedank (46) has a developed a comprehensive understanding and a lot of passion for one of the oldest film companies in the world. As he assumes the role of new CFO and right-hand man to CEO Allan Mathson Hansen following the departure of Thomas Rehling in April, he’s focused on continuing to listen and learn.
“For me, strong relationships matter and are built on communication and trust. So, the first period is going to be about listening to our talented teams and getting a better understanding of their keys to success,” says Morgan Habedank.
Passionate about the content
His path to becoming CFO of Nordisk Film began in a small town in the American Midwest, where his passion for the entertainment industry was ignited at the local library.
“I had a foundational experience watching the film WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS on a projector at the library in our small town. I was five years old and still remember the emotional impact of Old Dan sacrificing his life to save Billy. As I got older, it became clear that I wasn’t super talented on the creative side, so I had to find another way into the industry I was so excited about. Through finance, I was able to find that match between my skills and my passion.”
Unsurprisingly, a move to the heart of the American entertainment industry in Los Angeles was in the cards.
“There was a natural gravitation towards LA. I wanted to be a part of something bigger and landed a job as an auditor at Ernst & Young working with DreamWorks Animation, Fox Film, Lionsgate and the Emmy Awards.”
He then joined Vertigo Films in London, where he met his partner Birte. Following the Brexit vote they decided to search for a new home together in Denmark. In 2019, he was contacted by a recruiter, as Nordisk Film was looking for its next CFO of Film Distribution.
“I was very interested! I was working as Director of Finance at an exciting tech company, but this was a great opportunity to return to my roots, the world of film, and to work for one of the most well-respected and prominent players in the market,” says Morgan Habedank.
Nordisk Film has lived up to the billing.
“It’s been great. I had collaborated with Nordisk Film and TrustNordisk at previous stops in my career, and our reputation around the film markets is just world-class, so I had high expectations going in. But the passion and quality I found across all business areas has nevertheless made a big impression on me and is the primary reason why I believe the future is very, very bright for our company.”