The latest in a flurry of appointments at Munich-based production/distribution outfit, TV-Loonland is the appointment of Justine Bannister to head of international distribution and acquisitions, responsible for managing the television, video/DVD and licensing sales and pre-sales worldwide for the extensive TV-Loonland catalog. Bannister will be based in the companys London office and report directly to Olivier Dumont, TV-Loonlands recently appointed coo.
Bannister was the head of international distribution and acquisitions at Dargaud Distribution in Paris, which recently acquired Franco-Belgian comicbook publisher and animation producer, Dupuis. Before the merger of these two companies, Bannister spearheaded the creation and management of Dupuis Distribution and was head of international television and video sales for four years.
Previously she was vp, sales and marketing at Europe Images International (Lagardere Group) responsible for sales to English, Spanish and Portuguese speaking territories and for sourcing animation titles for the catalog.
Selma Käppel, ceo/president of TV-Loonland and managing board chairman, commented, This key position has been filled by a remarkable person and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team. She has an impressive track record in the animation business and we know that she will be a huge asset to our already commanding distribution division.
In 2000, when TV-Loonland moved into the distribution game in a big way, buying up Salsa Distribution (in Paris and later Miami) and Sony Wonder and Sunbow Ent.(New York City and London), its then head of intl sales, Lisa Hryniewicz, was based in Paris. London has now become its sales center, with Bannister moving to the U.K. as well as recently appointed head of creative affairs, Kourtney Kaye, who also was based in Paris.
TV-Loonland (www.loonland.com) is an integrated media company and counts among the leading international producer/distributors of animation for children, youth and families. With its own development teams and production facilities in Continental Europe, Great Britain and the U.S., a comprehensive rights catalog as well as a worldwide operating distribution team, TV-Loonland has today become a world leader among the independent majors in the industry.
