12 JAN 2021

CYBER GROUP STUDIOS USA BOLSTERS ITS LEADERSHIP TEAM

The company is expanding its senior executive team, announcing the appointment of two key hires: kids entertainment executive Karen K. Miller has been named President and CEO; and Merritt D. Farren is the new General Counsel and COO.

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Karen K. Miller and Merritt D. Farren

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Cyber Group Studios (USA), the US division of Paris-based multi-awarded international family entertainment company Cyber Group Studios, is expanding its senior executive team, announcing the appointment of two key hires: kids entertainment executive Karen K. Miller has been appointed as President and CEO; and Merritt D. Farren as General Counsel and COO.

The two will work together to grow North American development and distribution in support of Cyber Group Studios international expansion. Miller will be responsible for all operations for the company’s LA-based office. In his new role as COO, Farren will work jointly with Miller to boost the company’s growth strategies while supporting Cyber Group Studios global acquisition and distribution initiatives.

“Karen is a talented, innovative, multi-faceted and forward-looking leader. She has an amazing track record in the development and commercialization of successful kids and family global franchises worldwide,”  said Pierre Sissmann, Chairman and CEO at Cyber Group Studios. “Merritt is a best-in-class top executive with a wealth of business affairs and acquisitions experience in all segments of our business. He will be a great partner to Karen in the development of Cyber Group Studios USA. Both Karen and Merritt bring a remarkable and highly impressive background and maintain an esteemed skill set that has concentrated on creating highly successful children’s media and entertainment properties. We are thrilled to have both of them join our Cyber Group family and look forward to their leadership and support as we head into the next phase of our North American strategic growth efforts,”  he added.

Cyber Group Studios established its US offices in 2017 to connect the deep pool of creative talent of US writers and designers with its French and European counterparts and bringing to its animation productions artists from both continents to create global international IP’s at their best. The new appointments fall on the heels of Cyber Group Studios LA’s office recent announcement featuring news of the deal with Scholastic to adapt the popular book brand “Press Start!” into an new animated series of the same name. The company, in partnership with its France-based team, is also co-developing the CGI series “James & the Everafters,” which is an original IP, in coproduction with CCI in Canada; as well as “Monster in my Pocket,” based on a famous property in coproduction with MEG Entertainment in Los Angeles.

Karen K. Miller will join Cyber Group Studios commencing Spring 2021, spearheading the LA office for the Paris-based company. She was most recently the SVP of Content for NBC Universal’s US net Universal Kids, where she oversaw strategy, development, co-productions, productions and acquisitions across all Universal Kids content.

“I see a tremendous amount of potential to further enhance our slate of original best in class content for kids and families to enjoy and I look forward to partnering with our team in Paris to globalize our development while leveraging Cyber’s unique strength and proven track record in global distribution, financing and high quality production,”  Miller noted.

Merritt D. Farren joined Cyber Group Studios USA on December 2020 as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer. Farren was most recently General Counsel at SoundCloud, Berlin, Germany.

“Previously I had the privilege of working alongside the two principals of Cyber Group Studios, Pierre Sissmann and Dominque Bourse, when we were all at Disney. I am excited to be working with them again and eager to embark on developing the new roster of great family entertainment,”  Farren commented.

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