Thunderbird Entertainment Announces Promotion of Matthew Berkowitz to President of Company

Rhea-AI Summary

Thunderbird Entertainment Group (OTCQX: THBRF) has promoted Matthew Berkowitz to President while retaining his role as Chief Creative Officer. Berkowitz will lead content development and production across all divisions, including overseeing 27 shows currently in production for major platforms like Netflix and Disney. The company also announced several senior promotions within its Kids and Family Division and established a Current Series Team to enhance project oversight. The move aims to bolster Thunderbird's growth strategy through M&A and IP development.

Positive

• Berkowitz's promotion could provide leadership continuity and enhance strategic growth.
• Establishment of Current Series Team aims to streamline production processes.
• Thunderbird has 27 shows in production for major streaming platforms, indicating strong content demand.

Negative

• Concerns may arise regarding the experience gap due to the extensive leadership changes.

Award-winning Content Production Studio Also Announces Eight Additional Senior Promotions Across the Organization

Supporting the Volume of Shows in Production, Thunderbird’s Kids and Family Division Atomic Cartoons, Establishes a Current Series Team

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV: TBRD, OTCQX: THBRF), is pleased to announce Matthew Berkowitz has been promoted to the role of President of Thunderbird Entertainment, in addition to his current role as Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of the Company as well as its Kids and Family Division, Atomic Cartoons.

Matthew Berkowitz has been appointed to the role of President of Thunderbird Entertainment. (Photo: Business Wire)

As President and CCO, Berkowitz will oversee the development, production, distribution and acquisitions of intellectual properties (IP) across all Thunderbird Entertainment productions, including those from the Kids and Family Division (Atomic Cartoons), Factual Division (Great Pacific Media), and additional scripted productions, such as the upcoming Reginald The Vampire (working title) for Syfy. Berkowitz will be instrumental to Thunderbird's long-term growth strategy, which involves spearheading M&A initiatives for the Company, and further expanding IP opportunities for each division, thereby growing Thunderbird’s content library. Thunderbird currently has 27 shows in production (including both owned IP and service projects), for major streaming organizations and traditional broadcasters such as Netflix, Disney, Peacock, Apple, PBS, Bell Media’s Discovery, Corus Entertainment and the CBC, among others. Most recently, Berkowitz served as CCO of Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons, and as an Executive Producer on various Atomic productions, including winning an Emmy award for The Last Kids on Earth. Berkowitz will be based in the Los Angeles studio, providing oversight to each of Thunderbird’s four locations (Vancouver, LA, Ottawa and Toronto), and the team of more than 1,400 people.

Alongside his role at Thunderbird and Atomic, Berkowitz is also a producer on the animated feature film Extinct, directed by David Silverman, who also directed The Simpsons Movie. Extinct was recently released on Netflix, and theatrically released in various territories earlier this year.

Jennifer Twiner McCarron, to whom Berkowitz will report, remains CEO of Thunderbird Entertainment and its Kids and Family Division, Atomic Cartoons.

“Matthew has an exceptional creative eye for identifying and producing successful content. This, combined with his strategic vision for growth and ability to foster great partnerships has made him invaluable to our team. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked alongside Matt for the last five years and we are thrilled to promote him to President of Thunderbird,” said Twiner McCarron.

Thunderbird Entertainment is also pleased to announce the following promotions, hires and new teams across the Company.

In the Kids and Family Division, Atomic Cartoons:

• Nadine Westerbarkey has been promoted from Head of 2D Animation to the role of Studio Creative Director.
• Carl Upsdell has been promoted from Series Director to Head of 2D Animation.
• Andrew Egiziano joined Atomic Cartoons as Vice President of Production, Los Angeles.

In the Factual Division, Great Pacific Media, and Thunderbird Scripted:

• Tony Chung has been promoted from Director of Finance to Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Affairs.
• Lindsay Macadam has been promoted from Head of Scripted Development to Senior Vice President, Content and Business Development.
• Ed de Rivaz has been promoted from Creative Director to Senior Vice President, Development.

Thunderbird’s Kids and Family Division, Atomic Cartoons, is also excited to announce it has established a Current Series Team, which provides dedicated creative oversight at an executive level as projects transition from development into production. Brady Serwitz, who recently joined the Company following an extended tenure at Marvel Animation, will serve as Director, Current Series. Catie Carducci, who played a key role in The Last Kids on Earth franchise development, will serve as Manager, Current Series.

“We are grateful to be a part of this booming entertainment industry and focus all our efforts to create programming that can hopefully inspire audiences around the world. Our Company’s success is rooted in its people, and I’m truly honored to grow with and learn from the many talented individuals across Thunderbird who create the extraordinary content we see on the screen,” said Berkowitz. “We are delighted to further support our content endeavors by establishing Thunderbird’s Global Distribution and Consumer Products Division spearheaded by industry veteran Richard Goldsmith earlier this year, as well as a new Current Series team at Atomic Cartoons. We see no ceiling to the opportunities ahead.”

For information on Thunderbird and to subscribe to the Company’s investor list for news updates, go to www.thunderbird.tv.

ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. Thunderbird’s vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various divisions, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), Thunderbird Factual (Great Pacific Media) and Thunderbird Scripted. Productions under the Thunderbird umbrella include The Last Kids on Earth, Molly of Denali, Highway Thru Hell and Kim’s Convenience, among others. The Company also has a division dedicated to global distribution and consumer products. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release, which has been prepared by management.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005232/en/

Investor Relations Contact:

Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital

Phone: + 1 905.326.1888 ext 1

Email: glen@bristolir.com



Media Relations Contact:

Julia Smith, Finch Media

Phone: +1604.803.0897

Email: julia@finchmedia.net

Source: Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.

FAQ

What recent changes occurred in Thunderbird Entertainment's leadership?

Matthew Berkowitz was promoted to President while retaining his CCO role.

How many shows is Thunderbird Entertainment currently producing?

Thunderbird has 27 shows in production.

What is the significance of the Current Series Team at Thunderbird?

The Current Series Team aims to provide dedicated oversight as projects transition into production.

Who is Matthew Berkowitz and what is his role?

Matthew Berkowitz is the newly appointed President and CCO, overseeing content development and production.

What potential impacts come from Berkowitz's promotion for shareholders?

The promotion could offer strategic growth and continuity, positively influencing shareholder value.