Charles Rivkin, President and CEO, Wildbrain , announced the appointment of Michael Polis to the newly created position of CEO, Wildbrain Entertainment, effective immediately. Rivkin, who oversees operations for Wildbrain and its subsidiary Kidrobot, will step down as President and CEO, Wildbrain on June 5, 2009, having been named as President Obama’s candidate to serve as the United States Ambassador to France. Polis will report directly to Wildbrain ‘s board of directors. Diego Marchioni, CEO of Kidrobot, will remain in his post and will also report directly to the board.
Rivkin hired Polis as chief marketing officer of Wildbrain in 2007. As chief marketing officer, Polis led and supervised unprecedented global marketing and licensing initiatives on behalf of Wildbrain ‘s entertainment assets, including YO Wildbrain In his new role, Polis will oversee all operations for Wildbrain Entertainment, where he will continue to expand, evaluate and develop opportunities for the studio’s intellectual properties.
“Mike was instrumental in helping to grow Wildbrain Entertainment,” said Rivkin. “His proven creativity and entrepreneurial spirit will ensure his success in this new position.”
“Mike Polis has an impressive record of achievement and has been a big part of our success,” said Jim Caccavo, Wildbrain board member and Managing General Partner, Steelpoint Capital Partners. “We are confident that he will build on our past success and take Wildbrain Entertainment to a new level.”
Polis is a 20-year entertainment industry veteran with a proven track record in marketing, licensing and product development. Prior to joining Wildbrain in 2007, he served as Senior Vice President of Marketing Worldwide at The Jim Henson Company, overseeing global strategic marketing initiatives for the entire Henson library, including “The Muppets,” “Fraggle Rock” and “Labryrinth.” Polis received an Emmy nomination as an executive producer on “Kermit’s Swamp Years.” Before Henson, Polis was Executive Director of Marketing at Universal Home Entertainment, managing marketing of the home video catalog and releases such as “E.T.,” “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and “The Land Before Time.”