Montreal- and Toronto-based Sphere Media has promoted Judith Beauchemin and Marianne Culbert to leadership positions in its kids and family division, while the division’s creative director Ghislain Cyr is set to retire.

Culbert (pictured right) has been promoted to VP of production, kids and family and animation from her former role as head of production in the division. Beauchemin (pictured left) has been elevated to the division’s EVP, operations, kids and family from VP of production and post-production. Beauchemin’s remit has also been expanded to include the French-speaking territories.

Both will continue to report to Marlo Miazga, president and executive producer, unscripted and kids and family, with Beauchemin also reporting to Renaud Chassé, president of creation and production, French content.

They will also continue to work alongside Andrea Griffith, the division’s VP of content and development.

According to today’s (May 20) release, Beauchemin, Culbert and Griffith will be continuing Sphere’s push into hybrid live-action and animation series, such as TVO’s 26 x 11-minute factual series Burps, Butts and Bones, which was greenlit in February. Culbert and Beauchemin will also work to expand the scope of the division’s service contracts.

Cyr is retiring from the role he has held with Sphere since 2022, when it acquired his Montreal-based animation studio Sardine Productions.

“This restructure gives Judith, Marianne and Andrea the authority and freedom to take their vision further, faster and across all disciplines, from development to creation to delivery,” Miazga said in a statement. “Ghislain will be sorely missed but we will be forever grateful for his astute advice and guidance. His legacy will live on in our commitment to excellence.”

Images courtesy of Sphere Media