Canada-based independent animation studios Mercury Filmworks has announced the appointment of former Gaumont creative executive Heath Kenny to the role of Chief Content Officer.
The announcement was jointly made by Mercury Filmworks’ CEO Clint Eland and Chief Creative Officer Jerry Popowich.
As chief contentoOfficer, Kenny will work in collaboration with Popowich, as well as director of development Travis Williams and vice president of Original Series and Co-Productions Chantal Ling to identify and develop original properties as well secure financing and green-lighting productions.
Kenny will be based in Paris.
“We are excited to announce our appointment of Heath,” said Eland in making the announcement. “He is the perfect creative executive to lead our strategic expansion into the originals space. He’s a talented artist and director, has a keen understanding of studio and talent dynamics, and has impressed us with his ability to quickly align people and drive to the heart of characters and stories. In a very short period of time, he has assembled a wonderful development slate that we are excited about rolling out in 2019.”
Kenny said, “I’m honored to assume the chief content officer role with the studio and spearhead the company’s push into originals, which is the logical next step in expanding its operations and will serve as the ideal complement to its growing production service business.”
According to Ling, “Mercury Filmworks has developed and produced several successful and popular series over the years, but with Heath’s leadership original content will become a priority investment for the first time in our company’s remarkable 21-year history.
With Kenny at the helm, Mercury Filmworks’ original content team looks forward to announcing several exciting new development projects later in the first quarter of 2019.”