After 12 years, the founders of Perfect Day Media (PDM), Hannah Widell and Amanda Schulman, have decided to hand over the operational responsibility to two long-time veterans within the company: Karolina Sandberg and Tove Barkestad.
After 12 years, the founders of Perfect Day Media (PDM), Hannah Widell and Amanda Schulman, have decided to hand over the operational responsibility to two long-time veterans within the company: Karolina Sandberg and Tove Barkestad. The founding pair will remain as strategic advisors and will also take on new, more creative and international roles within the Pophouse ownership group.
In 2021, Sweden’s first podcast company, PDM, got new owners when Björn Ulvaeus and EQT founder Conni Jonsson’s Pophouse acquired the company. Hannah Widell, the founder of the company, had run the business for over 10 years together with her sister Amanda Schulman. In addition to being pioneers in the podcast world, they launched a number of successful podcasts, including Alex & Sigge, Ursäkta, and When We Were Kings.
– I have rarely worked with more creative forces than Hannah and Amanda. My team at Pophouse and I are also deeply impressed by Hannah’s ability to guide Perfect Day Media through the tough challenges the media and communications industry has faced over the past two years. The company is showing its highest revenue ever this year, and it feels stable and secure that Karolina and Tove are now taking over. I look forward to having more access to Hannah and Amanda in our other global ventures, says Per Sundin, CEO of Pophouse
At the turn of the year, Hannah Widell will hand over the operational responsibility to Karolina Sandberg, Head of Sales and Business Development, and Tove Barkestad, Chief Financial Officer. Amanda Schulman, founder and Creative Director, will also step down from the operational work but will remain with Hannah as a strategic advisor for PDM. They will also be part of The Pophouse Creative Board and, of course, continue as hosts of Fredagspodden.
– There is no better time for me to hand over the operational responsibility than now, at the turn of the year. Over the past two years, together with Pophouse, we have taken Perfect Day Media to a new level. We are now a creative and successful podcast hub with Sweden’s largest podcasts, an expanded business model, and fantastic employees, says Hannah Widell, founder and CEO of Perfect Day Media
– That it is Karolina and Tove who are taking over Perfect Day Media feels especially good for us as founders, as we have worked together for many years. There are no people in this industry we trust more, both in terms of their professional abilities and as individuals, says Amanda Schulman, founder and Creative Director at Perfect Day Media
Both Karolina Sandberg and Tove Barkestad have been active in the company since 2018 in leadership positions, with Tove Barkestad serving as Chief Financial Officer for the past five years. She was also a minority shareholder when the company was sold to Pophouse. Tove has extensive financial leadership experience from tech companies such as Quickspin and also from PwC.
Karolina Sandberg joined PDM as Head of Content in 2018 and became Chief Sales and Business Development Officer in 2022. In recent years, she has been responsible for the company’s sales strategy and the development of new revenue streams. Karolina has previously worked at the content agency Oh My as Business Area Manager and at Nord DDB.
– It has been a privilege to work closely with Hannah and Amanda for so many years. They have played a huge role in developing the expertise Sweden has in podcast production, and have also had a major impact on us as individuals and professionals. To now have their trust, as well as Pophouse’s, to continue building on what Perfect Day Media is today feels both significant and rewarding. Together with the best podcast profiles in the industry, we will continue to create content and entertainment with high commercial and emotional value, says Karolina Sandberg and Tove Barkestad
Karolina and Tove will share leadership responsibilities. Karolina Sandberg will become Co-Head of PDM as well as Director of Sales & Operations, while Tove Barkestad will be Co-Head of PDM and will retain her current title as Chief Financial Officer.
