Brown Bag’s Gaffney named 9 Story COO in rejig

Brown Bag Films CEO Cathal Gaffney has added the COO role at his toon firm’s parent, 9 Story Media Group, as part of a wider management reshuffle.

Canada’s 9 Story acquired Ireland-based Brown Bag last year, and Gaffney will now oversee production, technology and HR for the wider group. He will remain at the helm of Doc McStuffins prodco Brown Bag.

9 Story has also poached Blake Tohana from rival Canadian company Tricon Films & Television. Having been CFO at Tricon, he will take on the same post at 9 Story, reporting to president and CEO Vince Commisso.

Before Tricon, Tohana was executive VP and CFO of Magna Entertainment Corp., which is a major North American horse racing company with TV network assets.

Commisso said the appointment “fortifies our recent expansion and helps pave the way for future growth”.

Further changes see Steve Jarosz assuming a new EVP role that puts him in charge of production financing and compliance. Managing director Natalie Osborne becomes chief strategy officer.

Natalie Dumoulin, VP of creative affairs, will now oversee a unified Brown Bag and 9 Story development team.

“We are now a team of 500, with locations in four different countries,” said Commisso. “The changes to our management structure are an important step towards integration, designed to help us seize opportunities and achieve our strategic vision.”

9 Story’s owned titled include Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood, Wild Kratts and Peg + Cat. The firm’s backers include Zelnick Media Capital and media entrepreneur Neil Court.