WildBrain Makes Senior-Level Exec Appointments

WildBrain has made a new hire and promoted two current executives, including Deirdre Brennan being named chief operating officer, to fuel new business, creativity and integration.

Brennan takes on an expanded remit to integrate the company’s AVOD network, WildBrain Spark, into her existing portfolio of content and distribution operations. As COO, Brennan will continue her oversight of the company’s distribution and television businesses and align the WildBrain Spark business within this portfolio.

Stephanie Betts has been promoted to chief content officer. Betts is responsible for overseeing WildBrain’s content slate, working to cultivate an artist-led culture of creativity and talent in both animation and live-action production at WildBrain Studios. She will focus on creative excellence across development, production and studio operations.

Brennan and Betts report to WildBrain President Josh Scherba.

Damon Berger has joined the company in the newly created role of chief marketing officer. Berger will drive new business and revenue through opportunities in media sales, social commerce and digital marketing. He will be developing partnerships and client services that leverage WildBrain’s portfolio of capabilities, assets and IP. He reports to WildBrain CEO Eric Ellenbogen.

The role of managing director at WildBrain Spark will no longer exist and, as a result, Jon Gisby will be leaving the company.

Ellenbogen said: “We have made great strides in the last two years aligning all the parts of our business to respond to the opportunities in the evolving media landscape. These executive appointments build on those successes, with Damon joining the team to push into new opportunities and emerging revenue streams in the advertising and direct-to-consumer space; Stephanie bringing her passion for creative excellence to an expanded role at our studio; and Deirdre continuing the important work she’s done integrating our content and distribution operations. There are exciting times ahead for our audiences and investors as we continue to activate our incredible vault of IP.”

He continued: “We are grateful to Jon for his passion and commitment. Under his leadership, WildBrain Spark became a leading global distributor of premium kids’ content with gold-standard capabilities in content creation, ad sales, data science and digital brand building. Now is the right time to further integrate these capabilities across the group, and all of Jon’s colleagues join me in wishing him the best.”