Brave Bison bags Warner alum

UK digital outfit Brave Bison has appointed the ex-MD of Warner Bros Television Production UK as its CEO and has revealed it will not move forward with a proposed merger with Zinc Media Group.

Claire Hungate

The appointment of Claire Hungate comes after Brave Bison said that a proposed merger with Zinc (fka Ten Alps) “would not be in the best interests of either company.”

The deal had been reportedly proposed by Brave Bison’s now departed CEO Ashley MacKenzine and his father Kelvin, former editor at UK tabloid The Sun and Bison board member, but the duo failed to persuade other shareholders.

Hungate will join Brave Bison in September and replaces Kevin Deeley, the company’s chief operating officer, who has been in interim charge since Ashley Mackenzie resigned in January 2017.

Hungate stepped down from her role at Warner Bros earlier this year ahead of a restructuring at the company.

Robin Miller, chairman of Brave Bison, said Hungate would “further the group’s efforts to create value as the owner and operator of captive video content.”

Hungate added that Brave Bison’s “focus on social video, quality content and powerful distribution places the business within one of the fastest-growing segments of the industry.”

Brave Bison was relaunched last year, having previously been known as Rightster, in an attempt to become a social video manager and producer working with brands.

Ashley MacKenzie joined as CEO last year but lasted just six months in the role.