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\n\tEXCLUSIVE:<\/strong> ICS Nordic, the Finland-based production house of Ilkka Hynninen and Ilkka Rahkonen, is pushing into the live comedy space.<\/p>\n \n\tThe company, which is behind the Anne Watanabe-starring Blood & Sweat<\/em>, has hired live comedy events specialist Ilona Puttonen in the role of Talent and Operations Executive, and signed a partnership deal with Ismo Leikola, Finland\u2019s top international comedian.<\/p>\n \n\tPuttonen, who has 17 years\u2019 experience in the culture and live events world, will spearhead a push into the live space, which is part of ICS\u2019s plan to create cross-platform concepts that combine live experiences with film and TV content. She will focus on artist collabs, operational development, partner networks and new business.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIn the future, we are seeing clear increasing synergy between film, television, and live events,\u201d said Puttonen. \u201cOur goal is to develop innovative concepts where different types of content support one another to create unique experiences for audiences and partners.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe deal with Leikola plays into the strategy and deepens his partnership with ICS. The pair previously produced feature film Ismo \u2013 Breaking Bad English<\/em>, which had a theatrical release and broadcasted on HBO in the Nordics and the Baltic region, along with selling internationally into the likes of Australia.<\/p>\n \n\tLeikola recently sold out the Nokia Arena in Finland, marking the largest stand-up audience in the country\u2019s history. He is set to embark on a European tour, and ICS represents him in Finland on all business related to live events, partnerships and audiovisual content within the territory of his tour.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to take the next steps with ICS Nordic,\u201d said Leikola. \u201cWe share the same ambition to build comedy that travels internationally while still staying true to its roots.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThis is a natural next step in building a modern, internationally oriented content company \u2013 the strengthened partnership reinforces all of our positions as international players and opens new opportunities for film, television, and globally scalable comedy formats,\u201d said ICS\u2019s co-founders in a statement.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cMore broadly, ICS sees intellectual property as a wider universe from which different kinds of content, experiences, and business opportunities can be built. From our perspective, this move is a natural strategic extension of that thinking. That is exactly why Ilona\u2019s arrival is important \u2014 she brings deep practical experience from the culture and events sector and strengthens this capability significantly.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tFor Tampere-based ICS, the news comes a month after it hired new development, production, finance and legal and business affairs execs, and three months after we reported the company had teamed with Sherlock & Daughter<\/em> creator Brendan Foley on Operation: Arctic Fox<\/em>, a TV adaptation of a book by journalist and former army officer\u00a0Helena Immonen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n