Gaumont ups Atlan, consolidates US

French producer and distributor Gaumont has promoted Nicolas Atlan to president of its US operations, replacing head of US television Gene Stein, who has left the company.

Nicolas Atlan

In line with Atlan’s promotion, Gaumont is consolidating its US business so that all divisions within it will integrate under the exec’s leadership.

Under the new structure, Atlan will gain operational control of the entire US business, including the creative, production, business affairs, finance and marketing divisions.

Atlan was previously president of Gaumont animation and family, and his promotion comes after former Amazon Studios exec Michelle Sullivan joined the company last week as VP and creative executive of that same division.

In May, Gaumont also hired Karen Vermeulen as senior VP of global coproduction, financing and business development at its animation and family division, while Cyril Le Pesant was appointed head of animation and family.

As part of the reorganisation, Terry Kalagian has been promoted to executive VP of creative content from her former role of senior VP of creative development for animation and family. Kalagian will oversee all creative across the US business.

Alexandra Hunter, Kimberly Dennison and Christina Gabela have each been elevated to senior VP and creative executive, and will report to Kalagian. Also reporting to Kalagian are Sullivan, senior VP and creative exec Johanna Byer, VP and creative exec Alexandra Smith, exec director of creative Sean Wolfson and creative director Alex Soto.

Gaumont said Stein had exited the company in order to pursue other opportunities.

“Nicolas is a talented entrepreneurial executive with an impressive track record of securing strategic partnerships with top streaming partners including Netflix, Amazon Studios, and Apple TV+,” said Christophe Riandee, vice-CEO of Gaumont.

“Thanks to him, Gaumont is now in production on such high-profile projects including High in the Clouds, the animated feature developed together with Paul McCartney for Netflix; Do, Re & Mi, the musical preschool series with Kristen Bell for Amazon Prime Video; and Stillwater, based on the Jon J Muth Zen book series, for Apple TV+.”