Dargaud Distribution, home to one of Europe’s largest animation catalogs, has restructured its sales team, starting with appointing Leon Perahia as the new president of Dargaud Distribution with Véronique Chalandar as deputy gm. Claude de Saint Vincent, ceo of the Dargaud and Dupuis’ Group, announced the appointments.
Perahia has worked at Dupuis since 1986 in various positions, including finance director and producer. He oversaw production on a number of series, including the popular SPIROU, FLASH GORDON, CEDRIC and KID PADDLE.
Chalandar joins Dargaud Distribution after eight years in international entertainment posts, including positions at Ubi Soft and Canal Satellite and then at Dupuis, heading up licensing for Dupuis France. She oversees a team that has Michele Massonnat continuing her role as director of sales (for English-speaking countries, Scandinavia, Italy and Australia) and acquisitions.
Jerome Alby is the newly appointed sales exec, (replacing the outgoing Victoire de Mones) for Eastern Europe, Mediterranean countries and Middle East. Alby was previously in charge of development at Citel’s youth DVD division, handling Dargaud’s series BILLY & BUDDY, TINTIN and BABAR, alongside other popular brands such as GARFIELD and BEATRIX POTTER.
Renelde Castille also joins the team and will be responsible for sales and merchandising for Belgium (French and Deutsch speaking), Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Chalandar has promoted marketing exec Cathy Leclère to marketing manager for Dargaud Distribution. Christophe Lucas continues as servicing & traffic manager and Marie-Pierre Moulinjeune will continue to sell Dargaud’s catalog in France.
“We have a great team in place to maximize the potential of what is one of the strongest catalogues in the business," said Chalandar. "Our major aim for 2006 is to build on the success of our programming sales with an international merchandising strategy that will maximize our brands internationally.”
With two or three series in production each year, Dargaud Distribution handles one of the most prestigious animation catalogs for television in Europe. Current titles on the company’s 2006 production slate are TIME JAM, KID PADDLE 2 and YAKARI.
Paris-based Dargaud Distribution (
www.dargaudmarina.fr ), a subsidiary company of international distribution of the Group Media Participations, handles the Ellipsanime, Dargaud-Marina, Dupuis Audiovisuel and Storimages catalogs, and many other animated shows which from independent third-party producers including Les Films De L'Arlequin, Folimage and Les Films de Triangle.
