ZDF Studios drama chief Robert Franke to exit

ZDF Studios drama chief Robert Franke is stepping down from his role at the German outfit to re-focus on producing.

Franke has led ZDFS’s drama output for more than a decade but will depart at the end of the year and is being replaced on an interim basis by chief commercial officer Tim Gerhartz.

He will now become, on a full-time basis, co-managing director at sibling production firm Intaglio Films, a joint venture between ZDFS and German counterpart Beta Film.

Franke has been managing director at Intaglio since 2018 alongside Jan Wünschmann, working in the role alongside his duties at the German broadcaster’s commercial arm.

At ZDFS, his remit included oversight of scripted output as well as co-productions, with Franke a well-known figure on the international circuit.

He was behind shows such as well-travelled eight-part drama The Swarm and surveillance thriller Concordia, both from Intaglio Film, as well as Boogie Entertainment’s The Window.

Franke said: “After more than ten rewarding years with the company, it is time for me to redefine my priorities.

“Expanding my role at Intaglio Films brings together the core aspects of my previous work while giving me the freedom to focus on topics that will shape my work in the coming years.

“At the same time, it opens up opportunities to set new impulses beyond traditional production business. I would like to thank my team and ZDF Studios for their trust and collaboration over the past years.”

Markus Schäfer, president and chief exec at ZDFS, said: “For ten years, Robert Franke has successfully overseen the development, financing, and distribution of fictional programming at ZDF Studios.

“Under his leadership, our fiction business has grown significantly. Through targeted investments in new content and the expansion into new business areas and clients, Robert and his team have continuously increased our business volume.

“We respect his wish to refocus on his producing talents and are delighted that he will bring his deep expertise and experience in developing and financing international fiction projects to Intaglio Films. Robert leaves behind a well-positioned division that Tim Gerhartz, together with the team, will continue to strengthen in this key genre.”

Franke’s exit from ZDFS is the latest in a series of senior exec reshuffles over the past year, with Gerhartz joining from Seven.One Studios this summer and director of drama Yi Qiao exiting in May, as revealed by Broadcast International. She has since taken up a role at parent broadcaster ZDF.