Tricon Films & Television continues to grow its boutique Kids & Family division with the appointment of Frank Saperstein as executive VP, Kids, Family and Animation. In this new position, Saperstein will oversee all aspects of production and programming in the kids & family business, leveraging the company’s extensive development and production capabilities, while further expanding the division’s strategic partnerships.
In addition, Frank will be working closely with the previous interim head of kids & family, Jon Rutherford, who will continue to oversee Tricon’s international distribution & business development across all genres; and Ashley Rite, who will continue as head of kids development and work in distribution on pre-sales and acquisitions, reporting to both Saperstein and Rutherford. Saperstein is based in the company’s LA office, reporting to Tricon’s president, Andrea Gorfolova.
“I am very proud of what Ashley and I have built to date, but it’s now time to take this division to the next level,” said Jon Rutherford, senior VP of distribution & business development in a statement. “Frank has an unbelievable wealth of experience and a solid track record for building successful worldwide brands and alliances. We couldn’t be happier to have Frank join the Tricon family.”
“I am ecstatic and energised to join the wonderfully talented and focused Tricon family,” said Frank Saperstein. “Andrea has assembled a brilliant and forward thinking team of executives who I am thrilled to take my place beside to lead the continued strategic growth of the Kids, Family and Animation division. Jon, Ashley and I form the nucleus of an awesome team and I look forward to continuing to do business with old and new friends alike.”
Frank Saperstein is an Annecy Award winning and Primetime Emmy nominated executive producer, writer and director, who most recently served as CEO / executive producer for his own boutique development and production shingle Surprise Bag. Previously, Frank served as SVP of Family Television for Entertainment One, SVP of Kids and Animation for Blueprint Entertainment, Co-CEO/creative director of PASI (Philippine Animation Studio, Inc.) and as a development executive with VH1/MTV Networks. Frank’s credits include gender-bending classics “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” (CBS) and “Ren & Stimpy” (Nickelodeon), as well as a stint as producer/director with Prince’s Paisley Park Studios.
