WildBear Entertainment has unveiled a new eight-strong leadership team as the Australian documentary studio focuses on international growth, production and commercial expansion.
The studio behind Stuff the British Stole, under co-founder and longtime CEO Michael Tear, has appointed joint co-founder Serge Ou as Head of Creative Services, overseeing production, post-production, design and visual effects.
Award-winning producer and former ABC Head of Documentary and Factual Alan Erson takes on the newly created role of Managing Director, Head of Premium Television, leading the company’s premium factual slate and creative strategy.
Executive Producer Craig Meade has been promoted to Head of International TV, while Harriet Pike becomes Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, with responsibility across international activities, digital and post services, catalogue and rights, and commercial growth.
Meade and Pike will work with long-term international partner Wild Thring Media on new commissioning opportunities, co-productions and the global commercial potential of WildBear’s content across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms.
Rounding out the new senior leadership team are Chief Financial Officer Caroline Nicols, Head of Production Matt Nightingale and Head of Production Finance Miranda Kelly.
In a statement, CEO and co-founder Michael Tear said the restructure comes as the industry undergoes significant change, with the company looking to expand internationally and build new partnerships.
“The new leadership structure brings together some of the strongest creative and commercial talent in Australia and sends a clear message to the market about our abilities and intentions.”
The restructure also formalises WildBear’s creative services operation into three divisions: Post-production, Design & VFX, and Content & Experiences.
The company currently employs more than 100 people across five locations in Australia and New Zealand and produces and distributes more than 150 hours of factual content each year.
The announcement comes shortly after the death of Bettina “Tina” Dalton, a Principal and Executive Producer who played a key role in building WildBear into the independent factual studio it is today.
Dalton died on August 24 following a short illness.
