Announces new animated series for Netflix
TORONTO — Kids content producer and distributor 9 Story Media Group announced Sunday it has added to its senior leadership team with the hiring of four new executives across its distribution, development, legal and technology groups.
“Each of our newly appointed senior executives bring an impressive background and skill set in children’s media and we are extremely proud to welcome them to 9 Story Media Group,” said Vince Commisso, president and CEO of 9 Story, in a press release. “9 Story is a global leader in children’s content and this talented team provides tremendous bench strength to support our ongoing growth efforts.”
With more than 20 years’ experience in international distribution, sales and licensing, Joss Duffield (top left) joins the company’s distribution team as vice-president of distribution for Europe, and is based out of London, UK. Reporting to Alix Wiseman, senior vice-president of distribution and acquisitions, Duffield will be responsible for 9 Story Distribution International’s business across Western Europe, continuing to build and bolster the division’s growth within these markets, says the release. Previously, as head of international sales at eOne Entertainment, she was instrumental in the relaunch and worldwide rollout of the iconic Peppa Pig brand, transforming it from a local UK brand into a global phenomenon. Most recently, Duffield served as director of content for Northern Europe at Turner, where she was responsible for a multi-genre distribution portfolio including drama (TNT), local European drama (TNT Germany), comedy (Adult Swim), non-scripted (Tru TV) and children’s (Cartoon Network) programming.
Gráinne McNamara (top right) is stepping into the new role of vice-president of live action, development and production, and will report to chief creative officer Angela Santomero. With more than 20 years of experience within the children’s sector, McNamara will be responsible for leading 9 Story’s overall development efforts for original television series in live action kids and family. McNamara is joining from King Bert Productions where she successfully grew a children’s development slate and produced the hugely successful Malory Towers for CBBC and Family Channel Canada. Prior to King Bert, McNamara worked as head of live-action development for Disney Channels EMEA and before that as vice-president of development for Cake Entertainment where her credits included the award-winning Bottersnikes and Gumbles and Chicken Invaders In Space.
Jennifer Bol (bottom left) will be heading 9 Story’s global legal team as senior vice-president of legal and business affairs, responsible for establishing the global in-house practices that will set the strategic direction for 9 Story’s legal services worldwide. Bol will also be developing and implementing the organization’s legal and regulatory framework and collaborating with the executive leadership team to execute business strategies, says the release. Bol is a Canadian- and UK-qualified lawyer with two decades of experience in entertainment law covering a wide range of areas including television and digital development and production, broadcasting and all aspects of distribution including television, format and merchandising licensing. Bol comes most recently from Blue Ant Media where she served as senior legal counsel. She previously worked at 9 Story from 2012-2015 as director of legal and business affairs, where she was instrumental in the acquisition of the CCI Kids and Family catalogue, and has also worked as senior director at DHX (now WildBrain) and company lawyer for Entertainment Rights (now DreamWorks Classics).
Boris Beaubien (bottom right) is joining 9 Story’s Toronto team as vice-president of technology, reporting to chief operating officer Cathal Gaffney. Beaubien is an Emmy-nominated technologist and a veteran in the media industry, with more than 20 years of experience across television production technology. Beaubien began his career as a technical manager on the hit series Blue’s Clues at Nickelodeon, eventually moving up to become vice-president of TV production technologies, overseeing all technical and pipeline support at the Nick Jr. animation studio. He was also instrumental in the start-up of Nickelodeon’s CG animation studio in California, where he helped design and build their Burbank Animation and Live Action Studios. Most recently, Beaubien worked with Sesame Workshop to upgrade and refresh Sesame Street’s 50th season and develop the 
technology for their slate of series for AppleTV.
In other news today, 9 Story Media Group announced it is co-producing a new animated musical kid series, Karma’s World (right), created by award-winning American rapper, actor, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges. To be released on Netflix, the animated series (40 episodes x 11 minutes) is being produced by 9 Story’s Dublin-based studio Brown Bag Films and its Emmy Award-winning Creative Affairs Group, in partnership with Bridges’ production company, Karma’s World Entertainment. An anticipated release date was not announced.
