The Changing Face of Chapman Entertainment

 

Chapman Entertainment announced today that it has secured investment amid an ever more challenging global economy and plans a wide ranging restructure with broad strategic changes to its London office across its licensing, marketing, production and finance teams, which has resulted in a significant number of redundancies.

Company co-founders Keith Chapman and Andrew Haydon will remain at Chapman Entertainment. Co-founder, MD and Executive Producer Greg Lynn has decided to move on to explore other interests. Valerie Fry will become Commercial Director, with responsibility for licensing and marketing, with the support of Clare Wiggins, Head of Marketing and Live Events and Samantha Clapham, Product Development Executive. The company will additionally look to appoint a licensing and marketing agent

Emily Whinnett will continue as Director of Production and will manage the final stages of filming across both Little Charley Bear and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion, ahead of delivery to CBeebies later this year and in 2012.

The finance team will continue to be led by Erin Duffy in the short term with the support of Agnieszka Earl. Emma Way will remain as Legal Affairs Manager, and Suzanne Rivers will continue in a wider role as Office Manager and also taking on other responsibilities at Chapman Entertainment.

Keith Chapman says, “We are devastated to have to let go so many first class people who have contributed so much to our growth and success over the years. I can’t thank them enough for all they have done. But with soaring costs and challenging trading conditions, we’ve been forced to make these tough decisions. However, Charley and Raa Raa both show extremely positive early signs, and with Roary just launched into the US through Toys R Us, with a major roll-out in early 2012, the future is looking bright.”

The company’s first hit, Fifi and the Flowertots is one of the top pre-school shows in the UK on Five’s Milkshake! Currently it has 73 worldwide licensees with Flowertot fun reaching over 187 countries including the US and Canada. Since its launch in 2007, Roary the Racing Car has taken pole position by securing 108 licensees globally, and he has been sold to over 150 countries. Together Little Charley Bear and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion have 52 international licensees and to date have been sold to over almost 20 countries.

 

For more information, please go to www.chapmanentertainment.co.uk.

-Ends-

 

Cassandra Sananes

Head of PR

 

Chapman Entertainment

The Pavilion, 90 Point Pleasant, London SW18 1PP 

T- 0870 403 0556 F- 0870 403 0557 

www.fifiandtheflowertots.com www.roarytheracingcar.com www.littlecharleybear.com