Ex-Warner Bros exec Hungate resurfaces

Former Warner Bros. Television Production UK (WBTVPUK) co-chief Claire Hungate has been named CEO of London-based digital media firm Brave Bison.

Hungate exited Warner Bros. in February along with WBTVPUK co-managing director Nick Emmerson.

The pair had played a key role in the establishment of UK indie group Shed Media, which was sold to Warner in 2010.

The production group then became WBTVPUK, and now sits within Ronald Goes’ international Warner Bros. production group following the exits and a subsequent restructure.

At Brave Bison, which she joins in September, she will replace COO and finance chief Kevin Deeley, who has been interim chief exec since January when Ashley Mackenzie resigned after 16 months in the role.

She will also take a place on the board, which Robin Miller leads as chairman.

“Claire has an excellent track record in working in the UK creative industry, alongside her digital strategy experience of forming and developing relationships with companies such as Facebook and Google,” said Miller. “This gives the Board confidence that she can deliver strong and profitable growth.”

Brave Bison has faced a rocky period, with boardroom disagreements over the future of the business ultimately leading to Mackenzie’s departure.

Following the company’s AGM yesterday, it’s been announced that a potential merger with Zinc Media Group (fka Ten Als) will not go ahead.

A company statement said that, “After an assessment of the benefits that might be achieved from the combination, it was concluded that it would not be in the best interests of either company”.

Brave Bison will instead remain an indie business focused on becoming a social video broadcaster and intellectual property developer.

“Content is still king and distribution has become queen; the creation and distribution of owned intellectual property provides a high-value route to further content monetisation opportunities,” said Hungate. “I thoroughly look forward to joining.”

Hungate was also MD of Wall to Wall, which was sold to Shed in 2007, and held the post of head of business affairs at Princess Productions.