Vancouver-based Big Bad Boo Studios has expanded its Sales and Distribution team with the appointment of Jerry Diaz as Vice President of Global Sales and Distribution. A veteran of the industry and former VP Sales and Distribution at Nelvana and WildBrain, Jerry has more than 30 years of experience, having built sales and distribution channels for iconic brands such as Bob the Builder, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Backyardigans.
“I’m very excited to join Big Bad Boo. The company is well regarded in the children’s space for creating and promoting positive content that is laser-focused on values we should be passing on to future generations, like empathy, diversity, acceptance and protecting the planet” says Diaz.
Big Bad Boo has several shows across various age groups in production, including preschool series 16 Hudson, nominated for a Canadian Screen Award, a YMA Award and an Anthem Award, and recently greenlit for a fourth season. Also in the pipeline are climate change series Galapagos X and flagship folktale property 1001 Nights.
Finnish games developer Supercell Games (Clash of Clans) has brought on former Netflix executive Curtis Lelash as its new Head of Film & TV, based in Los Angeles. The longtime animation pro will focus on adapting the company’s game IPs, which include Boom Beach and farming sim Hay Day in addition to its 50 million-download hits Clash Royale and Clash of Clans.
Lelash served as head of kids and family animation series at Netflix from 2018 to 2021, overseeing shows like Centaurworld and Kid Cosmic. Prior to joining the streamer, he spent 13 years at Cartoon Network, climbing the ranks until he was a Senior VP managing original series from pitch to screen. He previously worked as a development executive at DreamWorks Animation for three years.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, has promoted Whit Higgins to EVP and Head of Global Enterprises (formerly the Media and Education Group). Higgins will be responsible for all international and domestic commercially funded business including Distribution, Licensing, Sponsorship, Themed Entertainment, Formal Education and Digital. He will also continue to oversee the organization’s offices in Europe, China, Japan and Latin America. Higgins reports to Steve Youngwood, CEO.
Under Higgins’s leadership, Sesame Workshop has broadened its international reach through expanded and new strategic partnerships, developed new Sesame Street-branded content in key markets and launched new location-based entertainment experiences.
“Sesame Street is seen in over 150 countries, heard in 17 languages and has more than 50 million social fans worldwide — it’s truly the longest street in the world,” said Higgins. “From the U.S. to Germany to South Africa, Sesame Street reaches millions of kids and families, providing the tools and strategies they need to thrive. I’m incredibly honored to take on this new role and work with my colleagues across the Workshop to continue delivering on our mission and encouraging a lifelong love of learning.”
Higgins joined Sesame Workshop in 2019 as VP International Media Distribution and Business Development, and was promoted two years later to SVP International Media and Education and Global Distribution. Prior, he headed up global strategy and business development in D.C. at National Geographic Partners. Higgins also spent six years in Europe, living in Spain and then Finland, managing TV channels businesses for Fox and National Geographic. Higgins started his media career developing TV programs for National Geographic Channel U.S.
DNEG announced the hiring of Tom Williams in the position of Managing Director, Episodic, for its visual effects division. He will drive Episodic VFX services globally and support Episodic clients across DNEG and ReDefine, in partnership with their executive teams, reporting to Managing Director Rohan Desai.
Williams will be based out of the company’s studio in London and brings more than 25 years of industry experience to his new role at DNEG, including 10 years in management roles at Sky and 10 years at Abbey Road Studios. He spent the last five years at MPC, where he held several roles, including Managing Director, Episodic, and most recently President, VFX.
DNEG’s episodic team has been honored with several industry awards in recent years, including two Primetime Emmys (Star Trek: Discovery and Chernobyl) and three VES Awards (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Foundation). The team has recently delivered acclaimed VFX work on major projects such as The Last of Us (HBO Max), Extrapolations (Apple TV+), Stranger Things Season 4 (Netflix) and Citadel (Prime Video).
More Moves
- IDW Media Holdings, Inc. and its IDW Publishing unit, announced a strategic organizational restructuring, including the appointment of Davidi Jonas as CEO and Joshua Frankel as CDO, and the promotions of Mark Doyle and Tara McCrillis to Co-Publishers, Amber Huerta as COO, and Jamie S. Rich as Editor-in-Chief.
- World-building creative lab Impossible Objects (IO) has signed short film, music video and commercial director Jay Walker to its roster of talent.
- Editing company Nomad has added Raj Ramnauth, the award-winning editor of Drake’s “God’s Plan” music video, to its roster for U.S. representation.
