Kids firm CAKE moves into production as Ed Galton replaces Tom van Waveren as CEO

Ed Galton

Kids firm CAKE has appointed Ed Galton to replace Tom van Waveren as CEO at the company, which has also revealed plans to launch a new production division.

Van Waveren will sell his shares in the company and formally depart in May after 15 years, to be replaced by Galton, CAKE’s former MD. Former finance director Cat Seddon, who joined CAKE in 2019, is moving to the newly created COO role.

Production pivot

The company has also launched CAKE Productions, which it said had been created “to support the substantial rise in development and production activities on shared and originated projects.”

These include Mush-Mush & The Mushables, Mama K’s Team 4 and Angry Birds: Summer Madness, while around 13 properties are in development.

Mush-Mush & The Mushables

The newly formed production entity will have its development slate led by Daniel Bays, who joins as VP of development and has previously created kids content including preschool animated series Tree Fu Tom and CBeebies & Boat Rocker show Bitz & Bob.

Rob Doherty, who joined CAKE in 2018 having worked for Aardman Animations, Disney and ITV, becomes SVP of production, while his team includes three new additions.

Ciara Breslin joins as VP of production, having most recently been line producer on A Stork’s Journey for Knudsen Film and Dragon Rider for Constantin Film; Haïet Lakhouache joins as line producer from French animation house TeamTO; and Claire Flanders joins in production finance, having previously been at DreamWorks Animation and Passion Pictures.

Both Bays and Doherty will report to Galton, while CAKE Distribution is led by Bianca Rodriguez.

Van Waveren, who will stay attached to specific CAKE projects as executive producer, did not detail his next move but said he is “looking forward to having more time to allocate to my own projects and interests and am excited to find out what will come next.”

Galton added: “Tom and I have been through a great journey together over the past 14 years but now we start a new chapter at CAKE and I am excited for the company’s future. The new team we have assembled at CAKE Productions has the experience necessary to take our production business to the next level and along with CAKE Distribution, these two divisions will be at the heart of our business.”