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Lighthouse Studios Names Claire Finn Managing Director

Experienced media creative combines decades of content development and advertising experience in driving expansion for full-service animation studio formed by Canada’s Mercury Filmworks and Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon.

Claire Finn

KILKENNY, IRELAND -- Lighthouse Studios, the joint venture formed in February 2017 by Mercury Filmworks, one of Canada’s most recognized independent animation studios, and acclaimed Kilkenny-based animation studio Cartoon Saloon, has announced the appointment of content and advertising creative executive Claire Finn as the studio’s new managing director.

As the managing director for Lighthouse Studios, Finn, who most recently served as head of content/executive producer, branded entertainment for London-based Firecracker Films, will be responsible for growing the studio’s development commitments and expanding production projects, focusing on high-quality children’s and family animated content as well as increasing the studios’ global production services clients. The studio, which utilizes the latest technologies in the production of 2D animation, also offers end-to-end production services, encompassing everything from script to post including design, storyboard and animation.

“Claire brings a wealth of experience in content development, production, design and the management of artists, all of which will benefit Lighthouse Studios in growing its pipeline,” commented Mercury Filmworks CEO Clint Eland in making the announcement. “She is a talented creative executive and producer who has demonstrated a keen acumen for strategic planning across all media platforms. We are very excited to hand her the reins of the studio. Lighthouse Studio will go forward in very capable hands.”

“After taking a considerable amount of time to find the right person to lead Lighthouse, we are delighted to be able to introduce Claire to our friends and partners in the Animation industry,” added Cartoon Saloon CEO Paul Young. “Lighthouse now can continue with confidence to create a truly creative studio and contribute to making Kilkenny a center of excellence in animation Production, drawing talent from all over the world.”

Finn took the helm at Lighthouse Studios just as the studio was wrapping Bug Diaries, the animated comedy series for preschoolers based on the witty children’s books by best-selling author Doreen Cronin and best-selling illustrator Harry Bliss for Amazon, and starting preliminary animation on the second season of the Emmy Award-nominated Give A Mouse A Cookie, the animated children’s series based on the classic children’s book written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bondm, also for Amazon. Finn will make her first “official” appearance as Lighthouse Studios’ managing director at the upcoming Kidscreen Summit in February 2019 in Miami, hoping to invite some of the nearly 2,000 attendees from 50-plus countries to work with the expanding studio.

“Lighthouse Studios is comprised of a truly high-caliber and international team who share a passion for animation, technology and creating amazing entertainment experiences, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to be able to return to Ireland after 23 years away to work with Paul, Clint and the crew on expanding this global facing company,” said Finn.

With nearly two decades of media experience, Finn most recently served for four years as head of content and executive producer of branded entertainment for London-based Firecracker Films, where she was responsible for overseeing the strategy, new business and creative development, including working with renowned brands such as Nike, Vodafone, Johnny Walker and more. Finn served as EP on several documentary style projects, including with the Nike basketball TV series, Nike: Rise Philippines; People Doing Amazing Things for the First Time for Vodafone; and an award-winning project for Pride Festival 2017.

During her career, Finn also served as Head of Content Production for U.K.’s award-winning agency 4Creative, Channel 4’s in-house agency, spearheading the production of all integrated conceptual campaigns, including the multi-award-winning Meet the Superhumans for the Paralympics for which she earned Cannes Grand Prix and Black Pencil awards, as well as the launch of 4SEVEN and rebrand of MORE4. For world-renowned agency R/GA London, she also served as Executive Producer of the campaign “Meet the Pills” by Beats by Dre.

Source: Lighthouse Studios

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.