Aardman Animations, the Bristol-based Academy Award-winning animation studio has restructured its Marketing, Licensing and International TV Distribution departments, merging them all into a newly formed division called Aardman Rights. The new division is set up to market and sell Aardman content across all media and it will seek to expand its IP portfolio by representing third-party properties.

Sean Clarke has been appointed Head of Aardman Rights, reporting directly to Miles Bullough, Aardman's Head of Broadcast. Clarke previously led the Marketing and Licensing teams at Aardman. Prior to that he worked for Disney Consumer Products.

Clarke's new department will consist of two teams -- Marketing and Sales. Jennifer Burgos will take up the role of Head of Marketing. Burgos joins Aardman from Turner Broadcasting where she was Director of Sponsorship and Licensed Promotions.

Within the sales team, Alix Wiseman will continue as Head of Sales for TV, DVD and New Media while the licensing team has added Rob Goodchild to work alongside Helen Neno as Licensing Manager. Goodchild joins later this month with an extensive background in video games and toys. He previously worked for Smoby Majorette and Radica Games (Europe).

Commenting on the restructure, Miles Bullough, Head of Broadcast said, "We wanted to create a more efficient and focussed sales and marketing division to drive forward the exploitation our own properties as well as third party rights across multiple platforms."

The Aardman Rights team will be at MIPCOM 2008 at booth 04.23.