Keshet hires Gaumont exec for kids TV push

Keshet International (KI) is pushing further into kids TV by hiring a well-known Gaumont Television exec, TBI has learned.

Nicola Andrews has been hired as senior sales and commercial director of KI’s new children’s television unit, which was recently launched.

She has worked in TV for more than 20 years for companies including Gaumont, Cineflix Rights, BKN New Media, Sony Pictures and Carlton International. She also had her own consultancy, Hemisphere Distribution, and began her career at New Zealand’s TVNZ.

Her hire comes as KI, the international arm of Keshet Media Group, promoted Kelly Wright from head of Latin America and executive advisor for Asia Pacific to VP of distribution and new business. This comes after she played a key role in the launch Mexican production arm, Keshet MX.

Limor Gott Ronen has also been upped, becoming to VP of marketing and communications, having built up the KI brand from its inception.

Andrews will report to KI’s COO and president of distribution, Keren Shahar, and be based in London.

Her role at Keshet will see her spearheading sales and commercial operations for the kids and family genres, including acquisitions, coproductions and worldwide sales.

She will be at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield, UK, next week in her new role, looking for new business.

At Gaumont, which she joined in December 2015, she was VP of distribution, selling children’s programming and French and US dramas to buyers internationally. She had remained with the business after it restructured its sales unit in January, but is exiting for new the role.

Andrews’ hire comes after KI formed a partnership with Ananey Communications Group, which represents Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV and Comedy Central in Israel. This pushed the company into kids TV distribution for the first time.

The deal saw Keshet pick up second-window rights to kids scripted series Greenhouse Academy, which is for Netflix internationally, as well as dramas The Hood and Spell Keepers and comedy Bed & Biscuit.

“Nicola is joining KI at a very exciting time, as we continue to expand the business and diversify our content,” said Shahar. “With her unrivalled expertise and excellent relationships, I have no doubt that she is just the person to establish KI as a formidable competitor in the kid’s content market.”

“The prospect of leveraging KI’s distribution and production expertise in the kids business is incredibly exciting, as is the company’s long-term commitment to invest at every stage of the value chain, build solid international brands and exploit them worldwide,” said Andrews.

“The kid’s content sector is entering a new and dynamic phase, and we are responding with some ambitious but achievable goals which take advantage of the opportunities available to us.”