Please wait...
Please wait...

Kevin Hart’s HartBeat pumps up leadership team following $100m capital raise

Actor and comedian Kevin Hart’s US-based production outfit HartBeat has hired former Disney and NBCUniversal exec Brian C Price to lead its new branded content studio, Pulse, alongside several other appointments.

Kevin Hart

In the role of senior VP, head of branded content and creative partnerships, Price will develop creative strategies for new and existing brand partnerships, as well as serving as a creative consultant for brands including Lyft, P&G, Sam’s Club, Chase Sapphire and Samsung.

The goal of the new Pulse division is to create custom content and IP, experiential offerings and creative solutions for advertisers across TV, streaming and radio.

In addition, the company has hired Candisse Williamson, former general counsel at Skybound Entertainment and VP at The Madison Square Garden Company, as executive VP, general counsel. It has also made a pair of promotions, with Mike Stein elevated to executive VP, head of TV and audio, and Monti Sehmi becoming executive VP, head of finance and operations.

Brian C Price

The expansion of the leadership team comes almost four months after the newly formed company secured US$100m in investment from private equity firm Abry Partners.

HartBeat was formed through the combination of two of Hart’s existing businesses, Laugh Out Loud and HartBeat Productions. The company also implemented a new structure under three divisions: HartBeat Studios, focused on financing, developing and producing film and TV content; HartBeat Media, which aims to connect with consumers around the world through events, gaming, music publishing, Web3 initiatives and distribution; and its branded entertainment studio Pulse.

Candisse Williamson

With the US$100m investment, Abry Partners took a minority stake in HartBeat. NBCUniversal-owned streamer Peacock, which took an equity stake in HartBeat in 2020 and has a multi-year first-look deal with the company, remains a shareholder within the new structure.

HartBeat is in various stages of development and production on more than 60 projects. In addition to its pact with Peacock, the firm also has a film deal with Netflix and an agreement with Audible in partnership with Charlamagne Tha God through a joint venture called SBH Productions.

Recent and upcoming projects from HartBeat include Me Time (Netflix), starring Mark Wahlberg and Regina Hall, Storytown (HBO Max), action heist story Lift (Netflix) and So Dumb It’s Criminal (Peacock).

RELATED ARTICLES

Please wait...