ZDF’s Hesse joins Gruppe 5 as managing director

September 6, 2012 by Barry Walsh

Alexander Hesse, most recently chief editor for ZDF’s department of history and society, is joining German production house Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion as managing director.

While at the German public broadcaster, Hesse played a significant role in initiating its ‘Terra X’ strand, as well as such commissions as Germany From Above, Super Animals and Dawn of the Ocean (also known as Universe of the Ocean). Most recently he oversaw the 3D production The Huber Brothers.

He began his career at ZDF in 1996, moving to the position of deputy head of the history and society editorial department. He took over the department as head in 2006.

At Gruppe 5, Hesse will work alongside CEOs Uwe Kersken and Christel Fomm.

“With Alexander Hesse, Gruppe 5 is taking on an internationally recognized program-maker whose innovative power and experience in a broad variety of genres will lead to new project ideas and modern formats for German and international television,” Kersken and Fomm said in a joint statement.

Cologne-based Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion is currently working on several projects, including the series Wild Planet, Women Who Made History, and Beloved Enemy, a 10-episode series on the history of German-French relations.

ZDF Enterprises, the commercial arm of ZDF, secured a stake in Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion in 2002.

Tags: Alexander Hesse, Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion, ZDF