‘PAW Patrol’ animators Guru Studio expand people & culture team

PAW Patrol

Toronto-based children’s content producer Guru Studio has promoted Babita Jassal to VP of people and culture in an expansion of the department.

Reporting to Lauren Leinburd, SVP of business affairs and general counsel, Jassal will now lead the studio-wide people and talent strategy, including learning and development, diversity, equity and inclusion, workforce planning and total rewards.

Jassal joined Guru Studio, which is behind children’s shows including PAW Patrol and True And The Rainbow Kingdom, last year and brings 20 years of human resources experience that includes senior positions at companies such as Warner Bros., Telus, and Rogers.

Babita Jassal

Additionally, Hetal Shah has joined the company as senior talent acquisition specialist to support Jody Jessop in her role as head of recruitment and community engagement.

Shah arrives with more than a decade of animation and VFX  recruitment experience at studios such as Tendril Studio, Mr. X and most recently Tangent Animation.

The expansion comes as Guru Studio ramps up its hiring of new creative talent across a range of 2D and 3D projects with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

Last year, the studio appointed Jody Jessop as head of recruitment and community engagement, Sarah McDonald as people and culture generalist, and Cristal Osbourne as people and culture co-ordinator.

“In just a short time Babita has already had a tremendous impact on our studio,” said Leinburd. “Her exceptional instincts, innovative thinking and vast experience across a wide spectrum of human resource initiatives will help support the continued growth of our studio and its culture.”