Will Harrison named chief exec at children’s media group Coolabi as Jeremy Banks resigns
Former BritBox UK chief and HBO Europe exec Will Harrison has been appointed chief exec at children’s media group and rights owner Coolabi Group.
Harrison will leave his current role as managing director at Seven Dials Media to take up the role, replacing Jeremy Banks, who has resigned after leading the company from its inception to its sale to private equity owners Talenthouse in 2022.
Banks remained in post following that deal to lead Coolabi’s strategy. He had particular focus on key franchise duo Warrior Cats and Beast Quest, while the company is also behind BBC-ZDF kids show The Lady Grace Mysteries.
Banks is leaving to pursue an undisclosed venture - details of which remain under wraps - but he will remain in an advisory role at Coolabi.
Harrison, meanwhile, will work with recently appointed Coolabi chairman Neil Court to maintain growth across publishing, digital, entertainment content and licensing.
He was previously chief commercial officer for the Harry Potter Franchise Group at Warner Bros and also held the role of chief operating officer at HBO Europe with a remit across channels and streaming in 15 territories.
Harrison was also previously managing director of now defunct ITV and BBC joint venture streamer BritBox UK, managing director at Ingenious Media, and held senior roles at Disney and Turner Broadcasting.
Court pointed to Banks’ success in striking deals with companies such as Roblox and Chinese streamer, and said he was leaving “to pursue a new and exciting challenge with our very best wishes for the future and our thanks for a job very well done.”
Court added that Harrison’s “knowledge of building global brands and fandoms are hugely impressive and a perfect match to his track record of running successful commercial businesses.”
Harrison said: “Jeremy has put in place the strong building blocks on which we shall build the next phase, and I am looking forward to working with Neil and the talented team as we enter this new era to further expand the business and continue to build the franchises and fandoms globally.”
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