WarnerMedia ups Brian Robillard to oversee newly created music strategy arm

WarnerMedia has promoted Brian Robillard to a new role as part of the launch of a music strategy arm.

Brian Robillard

Robillard will lead the newly created division within WarnerMedia’s kids, young adults and classics group. He will also oversee business management and operations of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.

Having joined WarnerMedia in 2014, Robillard was most recently assistant general manager and VP president of business operations for kids and family and Adult Swim, reporting to Amy Friedman, head of kids and family programming at Warner Bros, and Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen.

In addition, Michael ‘Kiko’ Akiko has been tapped to run the new unit as executive director of music for kids, young adults and classics, reporting to Robillard. Both will be based in Burbank.

Prior to joining WarnerMedia, Akiko spent more than a decade in executive roles across the music industry in A&R, publishing and global strategy and development. Recent positions include head of A&R for Universal Music Group Africa, where he led efforts on the continent and secured artist placements on Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift album.

Michael ‘Kiko’ Akiko

Together, Robillard and Akiko will collaborate with WaterTower Music, third-party labels and publishing groups to identify and curate music strategies and opportunities for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.

Friedman said: “In a dynamic and complex media landscape where audiences are consuming content in novel ways, Brian has hit the ground running to integrate our business operations across regions, brands and multiple platforms.”

In related news, Gloria Ponce and Sowon Sawyer have joined the WarnerMedia Kids & Family creative and programming team.

Ponce joined WarnerMedia earlier this year in the new role of senior creative executive, while Sawyer has been tapped as VP of programme planning.

Ponce oversees the creative development of live-action original content across ages 6-11 and family audiences. She currently has more than 15 shows in development for HBO Max and Cartoon Network, with an emphasis on Latinx-focused programming.

Before joining WarnerMedia, Ponce spent three years at Netflix, managing international originals for youth audiences. She previously worked as a creative exec in the Nickelodeon Original Movies department and later transitioned to Latino-focused digital content studio Mitú.

Sawyer, meanwhile, previously led the scheduling strategy for SundanceTV at AMC Networks. Prior to that, she spent 11 years at Nickelodeon in programme planning and strategy for TeenNick, NickJr and NickToons.

Both will report to Friedman, with Sawyer also reporting to Meredith Gertler, executive VP of content strategy and planning at HBO and HBO Max.

Friedman’s executive team also includes: Kim Howitt, senior creative executive, who oversees the creative development of third-party animation, coproduction and live-action across preschool, kids and family; Adina Pitt, whose expanded role includes leading kids and family acquisitions, coproductions and content partnerships across both linear and streaming in the US and on linear in Lat Am; and Joanna Rosenthal, as creative executive at WarnerMedia Kids & Family.

Both Ponce and Sawyer join as WarnerMedia Kids & Family continues its content commitment to include preschoolers and add more animation and live action to its slate to appeal to all kids and families.

Ponce and Sawyer will work on creative content development and strategic programme planning respectively, for the recently launched programming blocks Cartoonito and ACME Night on Cartoon Network, as well as other content and programming initiatives across HBO Max and Cartoon Network.

“Gloria and Sowon will each be vital to creatively developing and positioning our offerings as we build audiences across HBO Max and Cartoon Network,” said Friedman.

“They each bring exceptional taste and diverse industry experience to the team, and they’ll be invaluable leaders as we deliver inclusive content to kids and families wherever they watch.”

Gertler added: “Adding Sowon’s strategic scheduling insights and programming expertise with kids and family audiences is critical as we continue to build out and align our preschool, kids and family offerings across Cartoon Network and HBO Max.”