Aardman Appoints New Digital and Strategic Development Head

Animation studio, Aardman, has appointed Laura Taylor-Williams to the newly created role of head of digital and strategic development, a position which will see her act as Aardman’s key sales liaison with partners across AVOD, FAST and EST.  

In her new role, Taylor-Williams will lead the strategic direction of digital monetization at Aardman, forging new partnerships to ensure audiences globally can experience Aardman content and the third-party shows represented by the studio. She will oversee a team that covers both commercial and creative strategy in the digital publishing space. 

Taylor-Williams will report to, Alison Taylor, director of distribution, Aardman, and work with the Robin Gladman, head of acquisitions, Aardman, to see that all partners benefit from the new digital strategy. Gladman will be acquiring content that supports the strategy, while Taylor-Williams will ensure that all third-party acquisitions profit from the studio’s constant diversification and adaptation to an ever-evolving digital landscape. 

Taylor-Williams joins Aardman with over 15 years’ distribution experience, having led successful relationships with digital platform partners for NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Prior to the creation of the new role, she was a senior sales manager at Aardman, responsible for broadcast, streaming and VOD deals across Northern Europe and Canada. 

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“Laura brings a wealth of knowledge to this role and a real drive to deliver Aardman’s globally loved, playful content to a range of new platform audiences,” says Taylor. “It’s hugely exciting to be growing our team in this way, especially following such a period of success and recognition from across the industry. Working in partnership with our brilliantly connected head of acquisitions, Robin Gladman, I am sure Laura will do big things at Aardman – to the benefit of all our brands and third-party partners.” 

“I’m delighted to be heading up this new division,” says Taylor-Williams. “Aardman is perfectly positioned to deliver a rich experience for audiences through AVOD and FAST partners, with our access to value-added and behind-the-scenes content alongside our much-loved, award-winning slate. Working with our third-party independent producers to acquire and produce even more content right for digital is also a cornerstone of our strategy – ensuring that our pipeline of content is consistent, original and aligns with Aardman’s emphasis on quality, curiosity and playfulness. We are primed to take Aardman into this next phase of ambitious growth.”