WildBrain has revealed a number of senior leadership changes, including tapping Entertainment One (eOne) alum Nick Gawne as CFO, and a streamlined business structure.<\/p>\n
Gawne brings to the role more than 20 years of experience in finance, operations and business development in the media space with a focus on kids\u2019 and family IP, including almost 15 years with eOne. He was most recently executive VP and general manager at eOne for three years following the acquisition of eOne by Hasbro. Prior to the Hasbro acquisition, Gawne was COO for family and brands at eOne.<\/p>\n
Based in Toronto, Gawne reports to WildBrain’s president and CEO, Josh Scherba.<\/p>\n
WildBrain has also realigned its senior management team and business under its core capabilities of content creation, audience engagement and global licensing.<\/p>\n
Content creation integrates all of WildBrain\u2019s development and production capabilities, including its Vancouver animation studio, its London-based digital studio (formerly the WildBrain Spark digital studio) and its Toronto animation preproduction business, House of Cool, bringing creative excellence across all formats for WildBrain\u2019s proprietary content as well as partner projects.<\/p>\n
Stephanie Betts has been appointed executive VP of content creation, reporting to Scherba, and will oversee creative teams behind WildBrain\u2019s content in an expanded role that builds on her leadership of the company\u2019s development and production business. WildBrain\u2019s digital studio in London will now report to Betts while working closely with the company\u2019s creative teams to maximize opportunities for its owned and partner IP.<\/p>\n
Audience engagement integrates WildBrain\u2019s extensive capabilities in delivering entertainment content to audiences around the world, including its global distribution business, its YouTube network, its digital marketing expertise and its digital advertising business.<\/p>\n
Kate Smith has been appointed executive VP of audience engagement and will oversee all aspects of WildBrain\u2019s content distribution, its YouTube network operations and its digital marketing, reporting to Scherba.<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s Canadian TV business continues to function as a separate business unit reporting to Scherba.<\/p>\n
Global licensing includes the activities of WildBrain\u2019s leading licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG; the company\u2019s franchise management activities for key owned brands; the management of key third-party IP partnerships; and its interest in the Peanuts brand, operated by the Peanuts Worldwide subsidiary.<\/p>\n
Maarten Weck has been appointed executive VP of global partnerships and licensing, taking on oversight of key global IP partnerships with third-party partners across the entire WildBrain ecosystem, and he will also continue to oversee all activities of WildBrain CPLG.<\/p>\n
Tim Erickson will continue to oversee the Peanuts Worldwide business as executive VP of brand at Peanuts Worldwide.<\/p>\n
Weck and Erickson continue to report to Scherba.<\/p>\n
The company has integrated the business and creative activities of its London-based digital studio under content creation to become part of WildBrain Studios and has also integrated the business and operations of its YouTube network, under Audience Engagement, as part of its overall distribution and digital marketing business. These capabilities will now function under the overall WildBrain brand without the \u201cSpark\u201d sub-brand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the evolving landscape of kids\u2019 and family entertainment, WildBrain is in a position of leadership as the only independent company with a comprehensive, 360-degree suite of in-house expertise across content creation, audience engagement and global licensing,\u201d said Scherba. \u201cAs we continue our strategic shift to focus our business on key franchises that can generate the greatest returns from these integrated capabilities, Nick\u2019s deep experience in finance and operations for kids\u2019 IP is an ideal fit for WildBrain. With our strong leadership team, I\u2019m confident this new, simplified structure will supercharge our plans to focus on the growth of key owned IP, such as Peanuts, Teletubbies and Strawberry Shortcake, alongside key partnership brands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gawne stated: \u201cI\u2019m delighted to be joining the WildBrain team, as I\u2019ve long admired the company\u2019s capabilities and IP portfolio. I look forward to working with Josh as well as the senior management and finance teams across the global organization to help accelerate the growth of our brands and business and to drive value for shareholders.\u201d<\/p>\n
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