A thena Georgaklis has been promoted to VP of Nelvana Studios to oversee the company’s full production pipeline.

The former head of development at the Corus Entertainment-owned studio is now tasked with oversight of seven different crews across 2D and 3D animation, in addition to her responsibilities leading the company’s development work. She will continue to report to Nelvana president Pam Westman.

In addition, Melissa Graham has been promoted from senior producer to director of production, reporting to Georgaklis.

The promotions follow the departure of former head of studio production Jane Crawford, who joined Hamilton, Ont.-based Pipeline Studios this month as SVP production and operations.

The restructure will allow Georgaklis to oversee creative continuity throughout the development and production lifecycle, and “increase the focus on R&D within the studio,” a spokesperson for Nelvana tells Playback Daily. No other roles were impacted by the changes.

Nelvana has also been unveiled as a producing partner on toyco Mattel’s relaunch of the Barney franchise. The studio will coproduce an animated preschool series set for a global launch in 2024. Westman is an executive producer on the project alongside Corus’ Colin Bohm and Doug Murphy, and Mattel Television’s Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan.

The studio began production on animated series Millie Magnificent for Treehouse in January, based on the Most Magnificent book series by Canadian author Ashley Spires.