Ex-Henson exec cooks up new firm

A former Jim Henson Company senior VP of global distribution has set up a consultancy alongside another industry veteran who spent over a decade at toy giant Mattel.

Claudia Scott-Hansen

New York-based Cookbook Media has been launched by Claudia Scott-Hansen, who left The Jim Henson Company (TJHC) earlier this year, and Rob Bencal, who most recently co-founded educational streaming platform Adventure 2 Learning.

The new company is aiming to provide IP owners and content creators with a one-stop shop to build global franchises through brand development, licensing, marketing, and content strategy and distribution.

Scott-Hansen joined TJHC in 2018, having previously served as VP of business development at 9 Story Media Group between 2015 and 2018.

Before that, Scott-Hansen was senior VP and group director of broadcast for the Americas and EMEA at HIT Entertainment, which was bought by Mattel in 2012. She also previously worked as head of formats and head of Southern European distribution during a 10-year term at BBC Worldwide (now BBC Studios), based in London.

Bencal spent 13 years at Mattel, where he led global brand marketing and the development of toy lines for brands such as Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Jake & the Neverland Pirates.

Rob Bencal

Cookbook Media has been appointed the agency of record for all properties in the catalogue of Canada’s Island of Misfits Media Ventures, which is currently in development on Farm on Mars, the new CGI-animated preschool property from Keith Chapman (Bob the Builder, Paw Patrol).

T&B Media Global, a content production and distribution company based in Bangkok, has also retained Cookbook Media to consult on IP development and international partnerships for properties across its portfolio of animated feature films and series and live-action movies.

“We’ve been witnessing the incredible shift in our industry over the years, from a major evolution in technology, to consumer viewing and buying habits,” said Scott-Hansen. “Rob and I realised there was a prevalent need for strategy and expertise by content creators and producers without their own distribution or franchise development teams

“The current Covid-19 health crisis has exacerbated that need and the request for flexible and dynamic partnerships, which don’t really exist within the current corporate environment. Our new agency allows us to deliver on that flexibility and lend our extensive skill sets to clients whose vision we truly share.”

In addition to industry corporations and studios, Cookbook Media will represent independent content creators to develop their IP and market distribution strategies. It is currently working on two projects that will be announced at a later date.