Blue Ant takes Pulse exec

Canadian producer, distributor and channel operator Blue Ant Media has appointed a senior Pulse Films exec to works across its production operations.

Sam Sniderman

Sam Sniderman takes up the newly created position of global head for commercial affairs, based in London and reporting to Raja Khanna, CEO of television and digital.

Sniderman, whose appointment follows Blue Ant’s acquisition of Racat Group earlier this year, will have overall commercial responsibility for the company’s global production businesses.

He will work in partnership with Blue Ant’s production, finance and business affairs teams, working with companies including Antenna Pictures, NHNZ and Northern Pictures.

His remit includes developing new global business opportunities and he will also have oversight of Beach House Pictures, the joint venture with company founders Jocelyn Little and Donovan Chan.

Sniderman was most recently global chief operating officer and MD for film and entertainment at Vice Media-owned Pulse Films, working on shows for Channel 4, Sky Atlantic and ITV in the UK. He also worked on features such as 20,000 Days on Earth and Who Is Dayani Cristal?.

“As Blue Ant Media continues its international content expansion, it is critical that we have the right talent in place to spearhead the commercial aspects of our global production business,” said Khanna.

“Sam brings to the table an acute commercial mindset, with a natural understanding of the creative process and those who lead it. He is ideally experienced to take on this new role at our company.”

Blue Ant’s deal for David Haslingden’s Racat Group agreed in May saw it take control of companies including kidcaster ZooMoo Networks, Beach House Pictures in Singapore and mobile game developer and publisher Runaway Play in New Zealand.

The move gave Blue Ant, which operates television channels, production and a distribution business out of Toronto plus a presence in Singapore, Dunedin in New Zealand, Sydney, Beijing and Taipei.