Nicole Finnan, a prominent figure in the UK film and television industry, has launched Jaeger Media, a consultancy aimed at supporting independent producers and artists.
Nicole Finnan Launches Jaeger Media
EXCLUSIVE: Nicole Finnan, the veteran UK producer and commercial director who most recently led Peaky Blinders producer Caryn Mandabach Productions, has launched her own consultancy business.
About Jaeger Media
Jaeger Media aims to collaborate with start-up and small-to-mid-size producers, artists, and influencers to help them maximize commercial opportunities and protect their intellectual property. Services will be offered through a straightforward fee structure.
Finnan’s Background
Finnan is renowned for her commercial acumen in the British TV and film industry. With many indie producers struggling to survive as the traditional commissioning business model faces challenges, independent advice and support are increasingly sought. Notably, she was instrumental in launching UK drama houses Ecosse Films, Ruby Film & Television, and Eleventh Hour Films.
Beginning her TV career at Brideshead Revisited and Mistresses producer Ecosse, she ascended to Commercial and Finance Director before moving to Ruby Film, where she served as executive producer on Jason Isaac’s BBC series Case Histories and the BBC film Toast.
In 2011, she joined Eleventh Hour, known for shows such as Safe House, Foyle’s War, and New Blood. She became Managing Director of the Alex Rider producer in 2017, overseeing the deal that saw Sony Pictures Television become a shareholder a year later. SPT acquired a majority stake in the business last year.
Transition to Consultancy
After her departure, she became a freelance media consultant and board member at Inceptive Films, before joining Caryn Mandabach Productions in January 2023 as Managing Director. She restructured the business and negotiated new agreements with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, facilitating the transition of the BAFTA-winning BBC crime drama into a Netflix film, and led the company’s sale to Banijay Entertainment, which concluded in June last year.
Finnan informed Deadline that she decided to leave Caryn Mandabach after the sale and took a break from media, working as Chief of Staff for an MP following the UK election last year. During this period, she was formulating the plan for Jaeger.
“I had been contemplating this for quite some time – I was there at the inception of Ecosse, Ruby Film and TV, and Eleventh Hour, but establishing this consultancy will allow me to work with and assist multiple companies or groups of creatives simultaneously,” she said.
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The vision for Jaeger is to engage with a diverse range of clients, particularly those seeking to diversify their revenue streams.
“I would like to help them grow their businesses, which I find fulfilling, and put the right deals in place while providing support in any way I can,” she told Deadline. “It’s challenging out there for production companies, and having someone with a different perspective might be beneficial. I am an eternal optimist and believe there are opportunities available.”
Finnan noted that many companies simply lack the time or capacity to restructure and diversify, which is where Jaeger can step in to assist. “I can fill that gap,” she stated.
“I have had the privilege of working on many exceptional dramas and films, as well as prominent brands, such as Alex Rider and Peaky Blinders, and so understand the potential in areas like FAST channels, gaming, art, literature, audio, and more. I adopt a comprehensive view and can help businesses explore alternative opportunities. I can also assist in navigating the rapidly evolving technological landscape. To stay current, I am even completing a course in AI and tracking developments in that field.
Finnan is self-financing Jaeger and may consider taking equity stakes in clients’ businesses if it aligns with their goals.
