Former Nickelodeon UK VP and director of programming Tim Patterson has launched Larkshead Media, a kids media service company focused on series development, planning and brand strategy, as well as investment, licensing & merchandising and international distribution.

The UK-based agency, launched under the auspices of investment firm Bob & Co, already has a number of kids projects in the pipeline, including the already produced Q Pootle 5 (CBeebies) with Snapper Productions and new series Planet Wrong for Aubergine Films and Melwood Pictures, which is currently in development.

As CEO, Patterson will tap into a network built through his extensive TV career in which he held a number of senior roles at Nickelodeon/Viacom, Disney, UKTV, ITV and BBC.

Most recently, Patterson ran media consultancy T1M Consult. Prior to that, he oversaw program acquisition and development, content strategy, planning and scheduling, media planning, multi-platform content and broadcast operations for Nick UK’s portfolio of seven channels. Before joining Nickelodeon, he was head of editorial operations, planning and services at UKTV.

As part of its launch, Larkshead has tapped Clare Piggott as director of licensing and merchandising and Rob Doherty to serve as director of programming and distribution.

Through prior senior roles at Nickelodeon and BBC Worldwide, Piggott has developed strategic global licensing initiatives for brands including Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Doctor Who, Sherlock and CBeebies. Other popular brands with which Piggott has worked include Mr Men and Little Miss and Star Wars (CPLG), as well as Barbie and Hot Wheels (Mattel).

Doherty, meanwhile, has worked with such children’s television companies as ITV, Aardman Animations, The Walt Disney Group, M2 Films, EndemolShine and Initial Productions, where he has helped develop, produce and sell animated shows with a global commercial reach.