Boat Rocker adds Nelvana, Alibi Entertainment alums to creative exec ranks

Vanessa Esteves and Joey Case

Canada’s Boat Rocker Studios has hired former Nelvana and Alibi Entertainment executives as it expands the creative ranks in its unscripted and kids and family divisions.

Vanessa Esteves, who was previously head of production at Nelvana Studios, has been named senior director of creative affairs within Boat Rocker’s kids and family team.

The Toronto-based exec is charged with supporting creative development, pre-sales, current series and production for Boat Rocker’s slate of original animation. Esteves, whose credits include Thomas & Friends, Max & Ruby and Ranger Rob, will report toGia Delaney, senior VP of global sales and content, kids and family.

Boat Rocker’s roster of kids and family titles includes The Next Step (BBC, Corus, CBC), Dino Ranch (Disney+, Disney Junior, CBC) and Dino Ranch: Island Explorers (Amazon Kids+, CBC, Warner Bros Discovery EMEA).

Joey Case, who was most recently executive producer and development executive at Toronto-based prodco Alibi Entertainment, has been named senior director of creative affairs, unscripted.

Case, who is the co-creator and exec producer of Smithsonian Channel’s How Did They Fix That?, Science Channel’s Underground Railroad: The Secret History and Discovery Canada’s East Harbour Heroes, will be charged with supporting creative development, pre-sales, current series and production for Boat Rocker’s unscripted output. He is also based in Toronto and will report to Natalie Vinet, senior VP, global sales and content, unscripted.

“Boat Rocker Studios continues to invest in best-in-class owned IP and expand our in-house creative expertise as we grow our slate of premium content,” said Jon Rutherford, Boat Rocker Studios’ president of global content and rights.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Vanessa and Joey to the team and are excited for them to help us continue to build our content creation and rights management business across our kids and family and unscripted divisions.”