Imagine adds Universal alum for kids & family

Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s US prodco Imagine Entertainment has appointed a former Universal Pictures exec as president of its fledgling kids and family division.

Stephanie Sperber

Stephanie Sperber has taken the role at Imagine Kids & Family, a newly formed division of Imagine Entertainment. It will develop and produce premium animated and live-action feature films, TV series and shortform content across all platforms in the kids and family entertainment space.

Sperber will continue her role as CEO of the agency she founded in 2015, White Space Entertainment, which focuses on building kids franchises through consumer products and digital gaming.

Prior to starting White Space, Sperber was president of global consumer products, gaming, partnerships and product placement for Universal Pictures.

She began her career with the launch of Cartoon Network, working with Turner Broadcasting as an executive at Hanna-Barbera Cartoons. Before entering the entertainment industry, Sperber worked for Senator Joe Biden on the Senate Judiciary Committee as a speech writer.

“Our emphasis will be on great storytelling that appeals to global audiences and has the potential to grow into true franchises. Sperber is a rare executive that can see the merits of a project not only in its ability to entertain, but also to resonate beyond the screen,” said Grazer.