Director, Distribution EMEA

ABOUT MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT:

Moonbug Entertainment is an award-winning global entertainment company behind some of the most popular kids’ titles in the world. Moonbug’s line-up includes global sensations CoComelon, Blippi, Little Angel, Little Baby Bum, Oddbods, Morphle, Gecko’s Garage, Supa Strikas, ARPO and many more. Moonbug’s shows are currently available in 32 languages and feature on more than 200 platforms globally, including YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Sky, Super RTL, BBC, Vodafone, Tencent, Youku and many others. The company’s portfolio currently stands at 29 IPs and 100+ brand partners.

Moonbug is a subsidiary of Candle Media, an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises. By bringing together elite talent operating at the intersection of content, community, and commerce, it helps to position leading entertainment businesses for accelerated, sustainable growth in the current market and beyond. Candle is run by its Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs, leading entertainment executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, and backed by investment capital from funds managed by Blackstone’s flagship private equity business.

The Role:

Moonbug is looking to grow its distribution capability by bringing in a sales executive who has the ability to leverage the company’s IP across all platforms, whether digital or linear. The Director of Distribution's core responsibility will be to maximize revenues through leveraging intellectual property across EMEA. This individual will report to the Head of Distribution, EMEA (based in London) and be responsible for sales to linear and digital platforms. This includes distribution to free-to-air, cable, and satellite channels, as well as subscription (SVOD), transactional (EST/TVOD), and ad-funded (AVOD) digital businesses. They will utilize their extensive network to activate new business and distribute Moonbug’s content portfolio, driving brand awareness and revenues from linear and digital players. They will proactively seek out new business while identifying ways to drive a compelling consumer experience that surpasses competitors and provides optimal revenue opportunities across all screens.

Responsibilities:

Deal Negotiation: Initiate, negotiate, and close distribution deals for Moonbug IPs with new partners—including cable, satellite, internet, mobile platforms, and broadcasters—across a variety of business models (SVOD/AVOD/FAST) to achieve monthly and annual sales targets.

Account Management: Nurture and improve extensive existing partnerships with key broadcasters, telcos, and digital partners to maximize potential sales revenues.

Relationship Building: Build and maintain strong working relationships with key decision-makers to maximize revenues, ratings, and promotional opportunities. Cater to partners’ needs by coordinating solutions to contract, distribution, or marketing issues where required.

Industry Analysis: Monitor the marketplace for changes that affect sales activities. Utilise research and data effectively to establish the best possible sales strategies. Identify new opportunities arising from new entrants, changing technology, or delivery systems, and develop appropriate sales strategies using data and research.

Market Strategy: Work with the Head of Distribution to implement product-packaging strategies, ranging from individual program sales to linear channel distribution and branded blocks, maximizing all revenue opportunities.

Internal Collaboration: Develop strong relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure operational excellence and efficiency. Work closely and collaboratively with senior management to analyse and anticipate the financial and strategic ramifications of major deals.

Brand Representation: Attend pertinent industry functions and markets to ensure the company’s interests and objectives are properly represented and to continuously raise Moonbug’s brand profile.

Requirements

Desired Experience and Skills:

Experience: At least 10 years of experience in a similar distribution or sales role, with a full understanding of the sales environment and successful commercial practices.

Industry Knowledge: Working knowledge of the television and digital media businesses across EMEA, preferably within kids' content. Strong grasp of content, brand IP, market trends, and consumer behavior.

Network: Extensive established network in EMEA, particularly in the UK&I, DACH, and Italy.

Languages: Fluent or native in English.

Commercial Acumen: Demonstrated ability to drive revenue through commercially creative deals.

Strategic Thinking: A strategic and independent thinker, able to build creative alliances both externally and internally.

Communication Skills: A conscientious communicator who promotes transparency across the business, engages others clearly, articulates reasoning for decisions, and is open to diverse opinions.