03 Jun 10

Coolabi appoints new Head of Development and Production

Coolabi PLC (AIM: COO), the media company focused on the ownership and creative management of high quality intellectual property assets, announces the appointment of Zoë Scurfield as Head of Development and Production, with immediate effect.

Zoë is a respected senior programming executive with years of experience in strategic planning, acquisitions, commissioning and all aspects of broadcasting.  Zoë will be responsible for continuing the development and expansion of Coolabi's television production business across animation and live action. She will be Executive Producer for all Coolabi productions and will be the key point person for broadcasters and production partners. 

Over the last 12 months, Coolabi Productions has become one of the UK's busiest independent producers of children's programming, having recently delivered a second animated series of the The Large Family to CBeebies and TF1 in France, as well as the first series of live action drama Dead Gorgeous to CBBC and ABC Australia, as well as developing the new animated series of Poppy Cat, commissioned by Nickelodeon, for delivery from later this year.

Zoë spent 13 years with The Walt Disney Company where she held a number of senior positions, rising to Executive Director, Programming, for Disney Channels UK, Scandinavia and Emerging Markets.  She was responsible for all aspects of programme planning, scheduling, acquisitions, and commissioning across Disney.

Zoë Scurfield said, "Coolabi is a fast-growing and dynamic company with a fantastic portfolio of exciting and diverse properties. This new role puts me in a great position to make full use of my experience to help drive Coolabi's rapid expansion as content producers, and I am looking forward to working with key broadcasters in the development of existing properties, while discovering and nurturing new ones. I'm delighted to be joining such a talented and strategic team at this exciting time."

Jeremy Banks, Chief Executive of Coolabi, commented, "We are delighted that Zoë will be joining the Content team at a key time in the company's expansion plans and that the Coolabi story continues to attract such high quality talent from the world of programming and licensing."

Zoë's appointment follows on from the appointment of Anna Hewitt as Head of Licensing in January 2010. Anna joined Coolabi from BBC Worldwide where she was Head of International Licensing.