Boat Rocker staffs up distribution

Fast-growing producer and distributor Boat Rocker has staffed up its rights division, adding execs including Jessica Watson, who has joined from Entertainment One as director of global sales and acquisitions.

Toronto-based Boat Rocker has also brought in Jodi Lutz as director of rights management, Chris Hunt as senior manager of media operations, and Kelsey Griffin as manager, global sales and marketing.

Lutz joins from Ole Media Management, Hunt from Blue Ant Media, and Griffin is an internal promotion.

Watson (pictured), who has already started at Boat Rocker, will oversee sales in EMEA, and specifically across Scandi, central and eastern Europe, and Middle Eastern territories. She will also acquire scripted, factual, and kids and family content for the Boat Rocker catalogue.

Prior to eOne, where she was an acquisitions manager, Watson was a buyer for the Teletoon kids net. She will report directly to Boat Rocker Rights president Jon Rutherford (pictured, right), who has spearheaded much of the company’s growth since joining from Tricon in 2015.

“Boat Rocker Rights continues to strengthen the organisation’s global presence with a wide array of content acquisitions in multiple categories, and Jessica has the business acumen and experience to build on this success with new third-party partnerships and collaborations,” said Rutherford.

“In addition, Jessica will significantly add to our depth and exploration of new licensees and monetisation opportunities. We’re excited by Jessica’s arrival and the growth of the division.”

Boat Rocker, which came into being after Orphan Black producer Temple Street created a new corporate identity. It has since bought The Loud House producer Jam Filled Entertainment, the Arc studio assets from auction, and Peace Point Rights.

Radical Sheep and Industrial Brothers are also part of the group.