Blue Ant Media has announced a series of new leadership appointments to bolster its Kids, Family & YA business, aligning Blue Ant Studios and Blue Ant Rights & Streaming under a coordinated commercial strategy across original productions, acquisitions, distribution, and consumer products.
The company says the integrated approach will better serve the company’s global partners and support the continued growth of its Kids, Family & YA portfolio, which includes series like preschool offerings Tralala and BeddyByes, animated comedy-adventure Mermicorno: Starfall, and upcoming YA series Crew Girl for Netflix and Netflix/BBC/CBC collaboration, Camped Out.
Diane Rankin has been promoted to EVP and General Manager, Content and Rights – Kids, Family & YA, leading end-to-end commercial strategy for Blue Ant’s Kids, Family & YA portfolio, driving strategic coordination across original productions, acquisitions, distribution and consumer products. She’ll also continue to lead content development for the Kids, Family & YA business.
Nikki Andrews has been named to the new role of VP, Sales and Acquisitions – Kids, Family & YA, which she’ll assume full-time in September. Andrews previously supported Blue Ant in a consultancy capacity.
Vienna Downes has been promoted to VP and General Manager, Consumer Products, leading Blue Ant’s Consumer Products business, overseeing merchandising, licensing and commercialization strategies for the broader company. Downes will work closely with Rankin to maximize consumer products opportunities across the Kids, Family & YA portfolio.
Additionally, Grace DeLorme takes on a new role as Coordinator, Kids Sales, Consumer Products & Brand Marketing, coordinating licensing, brand development, and marketing across the Consumer Products business.
As part of the changes, Richard Goldsmith, Executive Vice President, Kids & Family Sales and Brands, is exiting Blue Ant to pursue new opportunities. Part of Blue Ant’s acquisition of Thunderbird Entertainment, Goldsmith previously held the title of President, Global Distribution and Consumer Products.
“This structure positions us to better serve our buyers and content partners, while creating more opportunities to invest in the exceptional content, partnerships, and talent that define Blue Ant’s Kids, Family & YA business,” said Jennifer Twiner-McCarron, President, Kids, Family & YA, Blue Ant Studios, in a company announcement.
“Our Kids, Family & YA business is an important strategic growth area for Blue Ant. By further aligning our Studios and Rights & Streaming teams around a coordinated commercial strategy, we’re strengthening our ability to serve partners around the world and unlock new opportunities across our growing portfolio,” added Mark Bishop, Chief Monetization Officer, Blue Ant Rights & Streaming.
