Nicolas Atlan moves to US office and Brigitte Legendre Benloulou joins as Director, Consumer Products for France
Paris, XX March 2009 – Moonscoop is to rebrand its global operations reflecting the synergy between its television production, sales, licensing and merchandising and new media departments worldwide. Taffy Entertainment, which formerly handled distribution, licensing and consumer products, and production brand Mike Young Productions will now all come under the Moonscoop banner.
Additionally, in a move which reflects the importance of the US market to Moonscoop, CEO Nicolas Atlan will move from Paris to the US office taking the position of Executive Chairman for US operations, where he will work alongside LA-based principals and Co-CEOs Mike Young and Bill Schultz and President Liz Young in expanding Moonscoop’s combined portfolio of properties. This will include extending the presence of the company’s current slate of programming as well as developing new series and forging new partnerships. He will also be charged with building the profile of Moonscoop’s programming that originated in France, within the US.
CEO Axel Dauchez will remain in the Paris office overseeing operations across the group with Co-Chairmen Benoit di Sabatino and Christophe di Sabatino. Laurent Billion COO, Europe and Lionel Marty, President, Worldwide Distribution will also remain based in Paris.
In further news, Moonscoop has made a senior appointment with Brigitte Legendre Benloulou joining from TF1 to take the position of Director, Consumer Products for French-speaking markets. Legendre Benloulou has a wealth of experience in the field having been instrumental in building brands such as Ushuaia, Pokemon, Star Academy, Franklin and Barbapapa during her eighteen-year stint at the French broadcaster.
She will report to Cynthia Money, President, Worldwide Consumer Products and Marketing at Moonscoop and work with Sebastien Fillion, Licensing Manager, France in the Paris-based office on brands including Geronimo Stilton, Tara Duncan, Dive Olly Dive! and Twisted Whiskers.
Christophe di Sabatino and Benoit di Sabatino said: “It is a logical step for us to present a single brand to the global industry as our operations across television production, sales and licensing work in parallel to extend the presence of our properties across all platforms and media. Nicolas’ move to the US office will create even more synergy between our creative teams in Paris and LA and we’re also delighted to welcome Brigitte to the Consumer Products department. Her considerable experience will help drive our brands in French-speaking territories.”
[insert Mike / Bill quote]
For further information, please contact:
Aimee Norman at Blueprint PR on tel: +44 (0) 20 8341 6171 or email: aimee@blueprintpr.co.uk
About Moonscoop
Moonscoop is a leading worldwide production, distribution, brand management and entertainment company, focused on producing original projects and building brands with international appeal and longevity.
Its rights library combines many of the most successful programs and best-loved animated creations in the global television market and includes over 3,000 half-hours of programming airing in more than 160 territories worldwide. Key brands include "Code Lyoko," "Fantastic Four," "Titeuf" (Tootuff), "Pet Alien," “Dive Olly Dive!” and "Casper" which are licensed in markets around the world. Moonscoop’s production slate currently includes new series “Geronimo Stilton” and “Twisted Whiskers”.
Moonscoop was established with the merger of France Animation and Antefilms Production and the subsequent stake of a majority share in US-based Mike Young Productions and Taffy Entertainment, which all now fall under the Moonscoop label. Moonscoop employs over 350 people worldwide.
