Boat Rocker Combines Content & Rights Divisions

Boat Rocker Media is bringing its content, distribution and brands teams together under Boat Rocker Studios, which Jon Rutherford will oversee as managing director.

The move helps Boat Rocker to streamline its corporate structure as the company plans for further financial investments into original content in scripted, unscripted and kids and family programming.

Rutherford takes on an expanded remit overseeing Boat Rocker’s family of content companies while maintaining his role and responsibilities as president of rights. Rutherford will have a dual report to Boat Rocker’s co-executive chairmen, David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg (who will also be assuming the newly created titles of chief content officers), as well as to Chief Revenue Officer Michel Pratte.

“The rapid growth of our company has forced us to ensure that we continue to create a dynamic environment that allows for all of our creative leaders to flourish. Bringing Content and Rights under one roof goes a long way in helping us do this and is the logical next step for the company” said Fortier and Schneeberg. “We are extremely proud of everything Jon has accomplished at Boat Rocker and we are looking forward to working more closely with him in his new role.”

“I feel extremely proud to have led an incredible group of people on the Boat Rocker Rights team, whose hard work and determination have helped build out a successful and truly global media company in such short period of time,” said Rutherford. “I would like to thank Ivan, David and John Young [CEO, Boat Rocker Media] for this opportunity and I look forward to working with the leaders of the content, rights and brands teams to bring great stories to life through global relationships, creative packaging expertise, financial support, and maintaining brand integrity.”