O’Brien takes eOne M&A role

Transatlantic producer and distributor Entertainment One (eOne) has promoted the chief operating officer of its TV arm to a newly created position to oversee the company’s increasing M&A activity.

Margaret O’Brien becomes exec VP of corporate development and will be responsible for the company’s M&A activities across the group. She will report to Darren Throop, president & CEO at eOne, and be based in Toronto.

O’Brien, currently president, Canada & chief operating officer for eOne Television, will continue to work on her existing TV responsibilities in the transitional period as the company seeks a new head for its TV business in the country.

She joined eOne in 2008 when the company acquired Barna-Alper Productions and orchestrated the acquisitions of Paperny Entertainment and Force Four Entertainment.

Most recently, O’Brien closed eOne’s deal with interactive agency Secret Location, which saw the firm secure an equity stake in the business as part of plans to develop new digital content development opportunities.

Throop said O’Brien’s “extensive experience in television and her M&A expertise” would help the firm “source and drive strategic growth initiatives for the group.”

eOne has been bolstering its operations across the globe over the past 12 months, most recently launching a TV drama production arm in Australia and New Zealand.

It has also restructured its international TV sales and distribution teams in several key territories.

The firm is market to acquire small to medium-sized reality-driven production outfits that can provide programming and formats for its distribution business, as C21 reported in October. But CEO John Moryanis also said a “larger, fully integrated production business that costs US$350m” might also be a possibility.

eOne also appointed a Hong Kong-based exec to oversee its licensing portfolio in the region, including the preschool series Peppa Pig.