Deadline Hollywood, Kidscreen and Animation World Network are reporting the unfortunate news in the following articles that, as part of parent company Viacom's restructuring efforts, a wave of executive layoffs has hit Nickelodeon's preschool and animation divisions, with three senior animation executives and two senior-level preschool executives leaving the company.
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From Deadline Hollywood:
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From Deadline Hollywood:
Senior Nickelodeon Executives Depart In LayoffsFrom Kidscreen:
The brunt of the Viacom layoffs hit Nickelodeon yesterday and today, sources tell Deadline. I hear a number of executives and assistants were affected in such areas as preschool, animation, legal and talent. I hear among those who have departed in the restructuring are Emmy winner Teri Weiss, Nickelodeon’s EVP Preschool Programming; Kay Wilson Stallings, SVP, Production & Development, Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. and NickMom; and Nickelodeon Animation Studio SVPs Rich Magallanes and Jenna Boyd. The cable network would not comment on the layoffs beyond the statement it issued last week: “As announced, we are in the process of restructuring and there will be employees leaving the company as a result. We are so grateful for the contributions they have made to Viacom.”
Nickelodeon is the latest Viacom division to undergo layoffs as part of the companywide headcount reductions, joining sister networks MTV, VH1 and TV Land as well as Paramount Pictures. The Magallanes and Boyd departures were first reported by CartoonBrew.
Layoffs hit Nickelodeon's preschool, animation divisionsFrom AWN:
As part of parent company Viacom’s restructuring efforts, a wave of senior-executive layoffs has hit Nickelodeon’s preschool and animation divisions.
Nickelodeon confirmed to Kidscreen that two senior-level preschool executives and three senior animation execs have left the company.
On the preschool side, Nickelodeon's EVP of preschool programming Teri Weiss and Kay Wilson Stallings, SVP of production and development for Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and NickMom, have left the company.
Sixteen-year Nick vet Weiss was promoted to her role in 2012. In her prior remit as SVP of the same position, she helped Nick develop numerous preschool hits, including Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies, Go Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets! and Olivia.
Wilson Stallings, named to her current role in 2013, was responsible for overseeing the production of current series Bubble Guppies, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Fresh Beat Band and Zack and Quack. In her prior role at Nick as VP of development and production, she helped develop preschool mainstays such as Backyardigans, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Lazytown and Peter Rabbit.
When asked who was heading up the preschool programming division in the wake of these departures, a Nickelodeon spokesperson offered no comment.
On the animation front, three senior-level animation executives have left Nickelodeon Animation Studio. Rich Magallenes, SVP of current series, Jenna Boyd, SVP of animation development, and Jill Sanford, VP of animation development, are no longer with the company.
Magallenes was appointed SVP of Nickelodeon Animation, current series in 2012. An 18-year Nick vet, he started at the company as a story consultant for TV shows like Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys and Angry Beavers, working his way up to executive director of animated and live-action series, and most recently VP of animated current series.
Boyd became SVP of animation development in 2012. Also an 18-year Nickelodeon veteran, she oversaw animated series and Nick’s comedy shorts program. Former Disney exec Sanford joined Nickelodeon in 2012, and was responsible for all areas of series development, from concept to pilot.
The layoffs are part of a corporate overhaul at Viacom, which is expected to help save the company US$250 million a year, according to Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. Layoffs have already hit other divisions of the company, including MTV, VH1 and TV Land.
As part of its cost-saving efforts, Viacom restructured its three domestic network groups (MTV Network Music & Logo Group, Media Networks Entertainment Group and Kids & Family Group) into two organizations under separate leadership. Viacom Music and Entertainment Group is now being led by Doug Herzog and the expanded Viacom Kids and Family Group is helmed by former Nickelodeon president Cyma Zarghami.
Senior Execs Exit Nickelodeon’s Preschool, Animation Divisions
Part of Viacom’s restructuring efforts, company layoffs include three senior animation executives and two senior-level preschool execs.
As part of parent company Viacom’s restructuring efforts, a wave of executive layoffs has hit Nickelodeon’s preschool and animation divisions, Deadlinereports, with three senior animation executives and two senior-level preschool execs leaving the company.
On the animation front, three senior-level animation executives have left Nickelodeon Animation Studio. Rich Magallanes, SVP of current series, Jenna Boyd, SVP of animation development, and Jill Sanford, VP of animation development, have each been let go.
An 18-year Nickelodeon veteran, Magallanes started at the company as a story consultant for TV shows like Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys and Angry Beavers, working his way up to executive director of animated and live-action series, and most recently VP of animated current series.
Also an 18-year Nickelodeon veteran, Boyd became SVP of animation development in 2012, overseeing animated series and Nickelodeon’s comedy shorts program. Former Disney exec Sanford joined Nickelodeon in 2012, and was responsible for all areas of series development, from concept to pilot.
On the preschool side, Nickelodeon’s EVP of preschool programming Teri Weiss, and Kay Wilson Stallings, SVP of production and development for Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and NickMom, have left the company.
Sixteen-year Nickelodeon veteran Weiss helped Nickelodeon develop numerous preschool hits, including Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies, Go Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets! and Olivia.
Wilson Stallings oversaw the production of current Nickelodeon series Bubble Guppies, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Fresh Beat Band and Zack and Quack. She also helped develop preschool mainstays such as Backyardigans, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Lazytown and Peter Rabbit.
The layoffs are part of a corporate overhaul at Viacom, which is expected to help save the company $250 million a year, according to Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. Layoffs have already hit other divisions of the company, including MTV, VH1 and TV Land.
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