Guru gains former Disney exec

Canadian animation outfit Guru Studio, animator of Nickelodeon hit Paw Patrol, has appointed a former Disney executive as VP of production.

Kara Lord Piersimoni

Kara Lord Piersimoni will oversee all Toronto-based Guru’s production-related ventures in her new position. She is joined at the company by Daniel Rattner, who has been appointed senior director of marketing and branding.

Lord Piersimoni, who has more than 20 years’ experience in global content production and has held positions at noted companies in the kids’ sphere, joins Guru from US-based Sparkhouse Studios, where she was senior director of production.

She has previously held roles at Walt Disney Feature Animation, DisneyToon Studios and Digital Domain Media Group, and also served as exec producer for Warner Animation Group for the LEGO movie franchise.

Guru Studio is the animator behind preschool property Paw Patrol, created by Spin Master and Nick Jr, which was recently commissioned for a Christmas special on Nickelodeon’s UK network.

The company is also behind Netflix original preschool comedy-adventure series True & the Rainbow Kingdom, which was has been renewed for a third season.