Canada’s Mercury Filmworks hires Gaumont alum as content chief

Canada’s Mercury Filmworks has hired Gaumont alum Heath Kenny as chief content officer.

As CCO, Kenny will work with creative chief Jerry Popowich, as well as director of development Travis Williams and originals series VP Chantal Ling, to identify and develop original properties as well as secure financing and green-lighting productions.

Kenny will be based in Paris. He arrives with 20 years of experience in animation, spending the last decade in France as a creative executive and independent producer through his company, You and Eye Creative.

For the eight years prior to striking out on his own in 2016 Kenny served as VP of creative and executive producer at Gaumont Animation.

“We are excited to announce our appointment of Heath. He is the perfect creative executive to lead our strategic expansion into the originals space,” said CEO Clint Eland.

“He’s a talented artist and director, has a keen understanding of studio and talent dynamics, and has impressed us with his ability to quickly align people and drive to the heart of characters and stories. In a very short period of time, he has assembled a wonderful development slate that we are excited about rolling out in 2019.”

Kenny added: “Over the years, Mercury Filmworks has earned its impressive reputation for the incredible caliber and amazing accomplishments of its production services partnerships with content giants like Disney, Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network, to name just a few.

“I’m honored to assume the Chief Content Officer role with the studio and spearhead the company’s push into originals, which is the logical next step in expanding its operations and will serve as the ideal complement to its growing production service business.”