Diane Rankin upped and Richard Goldsmith departs as Blue Ant Media shuffles kids sales division

Blue Ant Media has promoted Diane Rankin to exec VP and general manager, content and rights, kids, family and young adult, as the Canadian company looks to strengthen its children’s content division.

Diane Rankin

In her expanded role, Rankin will lead the end-to-end commercial strategy across original productions, acquisitions, distribution and consumer products. She will also continue to lead content development for the kids, family and YA business.

Meanwhile, Nicola Andrews has been promoted to the new role of VP, sales and acquisitions, kids, family and YA. Starting the role in September, she will lead sales, strengthen the company’s relationships with global partners and work closely with Blue Ant’s teams across key regional markets.

Vienna Downes has been elevated to VP and general manager, consumer products. She will oversee merchandising, licensing and commercialisation strategies for the broader company, while working with Rankin to maximise consumer products opportunities across the kids, family and YA portfolio.

Grace DeLorme is taking on a new role as coordinator, kids sales, consumer products and brand marketing.

Finally, Richard Goldsmith, exec VP, kids and family sales and brands, is to leave the company “to pursue new opportunities.” Blue Ant said he had played a key role in establishing the global reach of the outfit’s kids and family franchises.

Jennifer Twiner-McCarron, president, kids, family and YA, Blue Ant Studios, said: “This structure positions us to better serve our buyers and content partners, while creating more opportunities to invest in the exceptional content, partnerships and talent that define Blue Ant’s kids, family and YA business.”