CEO of Sydney-based Flying Bark Productions, Barbara Stephen is taking over as the new CEO of content for Studio 100 International. In her new role, she will assume executive management for all development, investment and animation production across the creative businesses, which includes Studio 100 Animation (Paris), Studio Isar Animation (Munich), Little Airplane Productions (New York). She will continue to oversee Flying Bark as CEO.

She has been with Flying Bark on and off since 2010, briefly working at Ambience Entertainment as produced from July 2011 to October 2012. Prior to joining the prodco, Stephen served as an Associate Producer for ITV Studios Australia.

Studio 100 previously backed the expansion of Flying Bark’s in-house animation capabilities, which will now be led by Alexia Gates-Foale as head of animation production.

Both moves come at a time when Studio 100 is significantly investing in original independent animated movies, series and brand activities as well as trying to diversify its technical and animation services. It has been developing a virtual reality service to improve CGI animation pipelines using real-time technologies to reduce the cost-per-minute of animation. The company is launching a professional demo at Annecy International Film Festival next week.

News of Stephen’s appointment comes a few months after Ulli Stoef, the CEO of Studio 100 Media and m4e announced that he was stepping down from his role by the end of June, as the prodcos continue to settle their merger.