WildBrain promotes Josh Scherba to president and CEO, as Eric Ellenbogen steps down

Peanuts

Canadian kids and family firm WildBrain has promoted Josh Scherba to president and CEO, taking over the helm from Eric Ellenbogen, who has stepped down as CEO and vice chair.

Scherba has also been appointed to the company’s board of directors, while Jim Fielding, chief marketing and brand officer, has been named as strategic advisor to the CEO and board.

Joining WildBrain at its founding in 2006, Scherba was appointed as president in 2018, during which time he has built relationships with partners, including Apple TV+, Netflix and Amazon.

Josh Scherba

Most recently, Scherba was the driving force behind WildBrain’s $11.4m deal to acquire Toronto-based animation company House of Cool.

Fielding, meanwhile, is a former president of Disney Stores Worldwide, and has held leadership roles at retailers including Claire’s Stores, Inc., where he was CEO, The Gap, Lands’ End, and the J. Peterman Company.

He will maintain oversight of the company’s franchise and marketing functions during a transition period, while working with Scherba and the board to implement new leadership.

The outgoing Ellenbogen joined Wildbrain in 2019 and his exit comes just a year after he signed a three-year contract extension to remain at the company until 2025. However, that agreement did include the provision to move out of the CEO role.

Ellenbogen said that he had “every confidence” that Scherba is “the right person to continue on the path we set together for WildBrain’s future.”

Scherba said he intended to place “a renewed focus on key franchises to drive profitability for the long-term success of the business and enhance value for shareholders.”

He continued: “With our beloved iconic brands, such as Peanuts, Teletubbies and Strawberry Shortcake, as well as the creative expertise we’ve invested in across our teams and our truly global reach in distribution and licensing, we hold a unique position of strength in the evolving marketplace to continue capitalizing on meaningful partnerships for content and consumer products.”