WildBrain is restructuring its business around three pillars—franchise & global licensing; content; and WildBrain Network—and has changed up some of its leadership positions to focus on building successful franchises.

The company has been working to simplify its business, including by shedding its linear TV channels, making its financials easier to understand for shareholders and selling off its remaining 41% stake in Peanuts Worldwide to Sony. The approach seemed to help boost revenue in a strong Q2, which saw its revenue up 11% to US$52.8 million (CAD$72.4 million), and now it’s doubling down on its licensing focus.

There were no layoffs with these changes, a WildBrain spokesperson tells Kidscreen.

Pillar 1: Franchise & global licensing

The company has tapped Ben Peace to lead the franchise team as EVP of franchise. This pillar handles the management of WildBrain’s brands, such as Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies and Degrassi. The franchise group works closely with WildBrain’s licensing agency WildBrain CPLG, which represents both WildBrain and third-party brands on partnerships, CP licensing and LBE efforts.

Peace was formerly SVP of commercial for APAC, MENA and India at WildBrain CPLG, where he led the agency’s expansion in those regions for the last four years. He began in this new role on April 6, reporting to WildBrain president and CEO Josh Scherba.

Maarten Weck, formerly EVP of global partnerships & licensing, leads the global licensing side of the pillar and will continue to lead WildBrain CPLG and third-party partnerships under the new title of chief commercial officer and managing director.

Pillar 2: Content

On the content side, Stephanie Betts has been named chief content officer. (She was previously EVP of content creation.) She’ll be leading the content pillar, which includes the company’s development, pre-production, animation, digital and live-action efforts. She also reports to Scherba.

In an effort to create a more integrated content approach, the company has named Ricardo Curtis, the Toronto-based studio House of Cool’s co-founder, as head of creative for animation. He’ll be overseeing animation at both WildBrain Studios and House of Cool. WildBrain acquired House of Cool (Unicorn Academy, Gravity Falls) in 2024.

Wes Lui, House of Cool’s other co-founder, is now SVP of business development for animation, with a remit to grow both studios.

Morgana Duque (previously SVP of production, content creation) has been named SVP, global head of production to manage digital-first content, feature films and long-form series at both studios. And Daisy Wall, VP of content, is adding digital content development and production to her remit.

In addition, the content sales team will be housed under the content pillar starting July 1. Katie Wilson, VP of global acquisitions and sales, will continue to run the sales efforts.

The changes on the content side are all aimed at building a “more connected, responsive” organization that can produce high-quality content, according to a release.

Pillar 3: WildBrain Network

And finally, Kate Smith, formerly WildBrain’s EVP of audience engagement, is leading the newly named WildBrain Network pillar. In her new EVP of WildBrain Network role, she’ll continue to grow the reach of WildBrain’s owned and curated YouTube, FAST and AVOD channels, as well as its Media Solutions ad-sales business.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct which parts of the franchise & global licensing pillar Ben Peace and Maarten Weck oversee.

Pictured at top are WildBrain executives. From top left: Maarten Weck, Stephanie Betts, Kate Smith, Ben Peace. Image courtesy of WildBrain.