WildBrain recruits eOne’s Nick Gawne & unveils new leadership & business structure

L-R: Nick Gawne & Stephanie Betts (Source: WildBrain)

Canadian kid’s entertainment company WildBrain has appointed former Entertainment One (eOne) general manager Nick Gawne as its CFO in a restructure of its senior team and a new “streamlined business structure” to focus on its “core capabilities.”

Based in Toronto, Gawne reports to WildBrain President and CEO, Josh Scherba. Starting in the role today, 8 November, he succeeds Aaron Ames, who will continue in an advisory capacity to ensure a seamless transition.

Deirdre Brennan, WildBrain’s COO, who joined the company in January 2020, has also exited to succeed the outgoing Graeme Mason as CEO of Screen Australia.

Gawne most recently served as EVP and GM at eOne, following its acquisition by Hasbro in 2019, serving as its COO of family and brands prior to the takeover.

In that role, he worked on production, content distribution and licensing for such franchises as Peppa Pig and PJ Masks. He was also responsible for revenue streams for digital, online and gaming, location-based entertainment and music.

“As we continue our strategic shift to focus our business on key franchises that can generate the greatest returns from these integrated capabilities, Nick’s deep experience in finance and operations for kids’ IP is an ideal fit for WildBrain. With our strong leadership team, I’m confident this new, simplified structure will supercharge our plans to focus on the growth of key owned IP, such as Peanuts, Teletubbies and Strawberry Shortcake, alongside key partnership brands,” said Scherba.

L-R: Kate Smith & Maarten Weck (Source WildBrain)

New team structure

WildBrain has “realigned” its senior management team and business to focus on its “core capabilities” of content creation, audience engagement and global licensing, which it said would allow it to “fully unlock” the growth potential for its key brands.

As a result, Stephanie Betts has been promoted to EVP of content creation, reporting to Scherba, and will oversee creative teams behind WildBrain’s content in an expanded role. WildBrain’s digital studio in London will now report to Betts while working closely with the company’s creative teams to maximize opportunities for its owned and partner IP.

Kate Smith has meanwhile been upped EVP of audience engagement, and will oversee all aspects of WildBrain’s content distribution, its YouTube network operations and its digital marketing, also based in London and also reporting to Scherba.

The Company’s Canadian TV business continues to function as a separate business unit reporting to Scherba.

Maarten Weck has been appointed EVP, global partnerships and licensing, and will spearhead oversight of key global IP partnerships with third-party partners and also continue to oversee all activities of WildBrain CPLG.

Tim Erickson will meanwhile continue to oversee the Peanuts Worldwide business as EVP, brand. Both Weck and Erickson continue to report to Scherba.

As part of the realignment, the company has integrated the business and creative activities of its London-based digital studio under content creation, to become part of WildBrain Studios, and has also integrated the business and operations of its YouTube network under audience engagement, as part of its overall distribution and digital marketing business. These capabilities will now function under the overall WildBrain brand without the “Spark” sub-brand.