- French producer/distributor StudioCanal has appointed Alex Hamilton (pictured left) as chief international officer effective March 1, with responsibility for overseeing direct distribution and international operations across multiple markets, including the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Australia and New Zealand. Hamilton, who previously served as CEO of the company’s UK office, will also oversee the StudioCanal Kids & Family business, which controls the Paddington IP. In tandem with Hamilton’s appointment, Katheryn Needham (pictured right)—who has served as MD of StudioCanal UK for the past year—has been upped to CEO.
- Paris-headquartered Mediawan Group has appointed Max Wiedemann as its head of artificial intelligence to lead the integration of AI into the company’s content creation efforts and business activities. It’s a remit expansion for Wiedemann, who will continue in his existing roles as chief production officer and chief business development officer at Mediawan’s LEONINE Studios.
- Vancouver’s Mainframe Studios has promoted Tanya Green from head of preschool (a title she held since 2020) to SVP of development and current series, overseeing a slate that includes both preschool and all-ages content. Mainframe has also upped Florian Wagner from supervising director to creative director, with a focus on enhancing the company’s creative capabilities. And moving up to development executive is Nick Purrier—formerly a creative development manager, he is tasked with broadening global partnerships in his new role.
- Microsoft has elevated Kayleen Walters to head of Mojang Studios, the Stockholm-based developer of Minecraft. Walters will work in this role in addition to her existing one as VP of franchise development at Microsoft Gaming. She succeeds Åsa Bredin, who stepped down after two years at the helm but is helping out with the leadership transition until the end of this month.
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