Aardman Appoints Three New Trustees

Aardman has appointed three new members to its board of trustees: Caroline Norbury OBE, Deep Sehgal and Laurence Green.

Norbury is the founding chief executive of Creative UK, Sehgal serves as head of creative diversity at GroupM Motion Entertainment, and Green is the director of effectiveness at the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. They join the other trustees in the job of ensuring Aardman is run in the interests of its employees, in accordance with its guiding principles and to the standards and values of its employees and founders.

The main duties and responsibilities of the board of trustees include supporting the executive board in the long-term strategic planning for the studio. Trustees are not involved in the operational day-to-day running of Aardman.

Norbury began her career working in community arts before becoming a film and TV producer and later going on to found Creative UK, a not-for-profit organization that supports the creative industries. Creative UK has leveraged over £100 million into creative businesses and projects across the U.K.

Throughout Sehgal’s career, he has worked across documentary, drama and comedy as a producer, director and executive producer for major global television networks. In his current role at GroupM Motion Entertainment, he leads a dedicated fund for underrepresented producers in partnership with Channel Four.

Green is an advertising strategist-turned-agency founder who has started, grown and sold two creative agencies, Fallon and 101, working along the way with some of the world’s most popular brands such as Nando’s, Green & Blacks, Ben & Jerry’s, BBC, Cadbury, Skoda and Sony. He was a strategy columnist for Campaign magazine for many years and an advertising columnist at The Sunday Telegraph for three.

Aardman’s existing trustees are independent chair David Pester, Aardman employees Dave Roberts and Carla Shelley and Aardman co-founder David Sproxton. Norbury, Sehgal and Green are taking over from Jeremy Gadd and Mary Lowance, who will be finishing their terms.

“Aardman’s global reputation for creative excellence is renowned, and a real example of the power and quality of the UK’s creative industries,” Norbury said. “I am honored to be joining this iconic organization, which has imagination, innovation and sheer joy at its heart. Their commitment to supporting emerging diverse talent in the U.K. is particularly close to my heart, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to help empower the next generation of creatives in Bristol and beyond.”

“Aardman is amongst the most iconic brands in the world, and alongside the company’s astonishing creative output is all the incredible work it does to improve the lives of children here in Bristol and beyond,” commented Sehgal. “They are a shining example of how creativity and humor can be harnessed as a force for good, and I am truly honored to be joining them.”

Green noted, “I’m a great believer in the value of creativity in our cultural and commercial lives and delighted to be part of the studio’s next chapter. Aardman’s characters and stories raise a smile and raise the bar wherever they go.”

“It is such a pleasure to welcome Caroline, Deep and Laurence to Aardman and to have their wealth of experience and knowledge at our disposal,” added Sean Clarke, managing director of Aardman. “Aardman continues to go from strength to strength, with big ambitions for the future. We’re delighted to have such a capable and experienced trio join our Board of Trustees, who will help to support and guide us in delivering on these ambitions.”