EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based toon house Hari has added to its ranks.
The Grizzy & the Lemmings company has hired Toby Jones as Head of Sales, and promoted Sophie ‘Kido’ Prigent as Director of Strategic Partnerships & Financing.
The hires come amid a strategic push at Hari to grow the international footprints of toons such as Grizzly and Mystery Lane. They follow a agreement struck last week with Retail Monster for a major licensing and merchandising program.
Prigent, who has worked at Hari for three years, was previously Head of Distribution. Now, as part of the leadership team, she will oversee all revenue-generating activity, including TV and digital distribution, L&M, new format financing and content extensions.
She’ll remain in Paris and report to Hari co-founder and co-CEO Josselin Charier.
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Jones, who will report into Prigent from his base in London, joins from rival kids TV company Cake. He will oversee global sales of shows such as Grizzy & the Lemmings, Mystery Lane, The Weasy Family and Baby Lemmings, and his first international market will be MIFA in June.
Former Kew Media Distribution staffer Jones has worked at Cake since it acquired the assets of Jetpack Distribution, where he previously worked. As Deadline revealed in September last year, the deal saw Jetpack founder Dominic Gardiner joining Cake as Managing Director of Distribution. Jones was one of a couple of Jetpack staff who transferred to Cake, and was promoted to Senior Sales Manager in the process.
“We’re entering a new chapter for Hari – one driven by bold ambition, international growth, and 360-degree franchise building,” said Charier. “We’re creating original IPs with the power to travel – across platforms, territories, and into pop culture.
“Kido has played a key role in delivering this vision, and this new role reflects both the scale of our ambitions and the trust we place in her leadership. With Toby joining, we’re reinforcing the foundations for Hari’s next phase of global growth. His strong track record, deep industry relationships, and hands-on distribution experience make him a powerful addition as we accelerate our global expansion.”
It’s been a tough time for France‘s kids TV makers and sellers over recent years, with Hari’s compatriot, Cyber Group Studios, in the process of being sold after running into financial trouble, and TeamTO being acquired by Riva Studios having filed for bankruptcy.
Hari, however, has been launching new shows and looking at expansion. Last year, it took Grizzy universe series Baby Lemmings into production after Warner Bros Discovery EMEA and France Télévisions board the 78-part toon.
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