Magic Light Pictures hires Jetpack alum to oversee global sales

Marie-Laure Roche

UK kids & family prodco Magic Light Pictures has appointed former Jetpack exec Marie-Laure Roche to the newly created position of head of international sales.

Roche will be responsible for supporting business development, seeking new opportunities across broadcasters, streamers, distributors and on-demand platforms, with a focus on Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Middle East & Africa and Latin America.

Reporting to Muriel Thomas, Magic Light’s international distribution director, Roche will also maintain and build existing relationships, collaborating closely with marketing and international licensing to be across all aspects of the business to ensure successful launches of Magic Light’s brands in each market.

The Gruffalo

Roche arrives at Magic Light with 15 years industry experience, specialising in kids and family entertainment and factual content. She has worked on the distribution of shows including Talking Tom, Dennis And Gnasher Unleashed, Thomas And Friends, Barbie, Angry Birds and the BBC Open University catalogue.

She joins Magic Light from Superights SAS, where she was sales director, and has also worked at Jetpack Distribution as head of global sales, Mattel Inc as senior manager, content distribution Europe and Cake Entertainment as senior sales manager.

Magic Light Pictures manages popular children’s brand The Gruffalo and is known for its collaborations with UK pubcaster the BBC for animated specials based on this brand and other works by author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, such as Stick Man and The Highway Rat.

“I’m such a big fan of Magic Light’s wonderful portfolio so am thrilled to be able to help spread the word internationally and continue its impressive growth and reach,” said Roche.

“This is family entertainment of the highest quality and creativity which deserves to be seen by as wide an audience as possible and I look forward to helping to achieve that with this fantastic team.”