WildBrain Ltd. (“WildBrain” or the “Company“) (TSX: WILD), a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment, announces that Rita Middleton, CEO and interim CFO of International Solar Solutions Inc., has been appointed as an independent director of the Company. Middleton will fill a seat on the board of directors of WildBrain (the “Board“) being vacated by director Alan Hibben, who will be stepping down as of September 1, 2022, for personal reasons. Don Wright, Chair of the Board, will replace Hibben as Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee at that time.
Rita Middleton has over twenty-five years’ strategic senior management experience, including operational start-up, dynamic growth environments, and industry regulatory and public company compliance. She has more than 10 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, including carbon-emission credits development, ocean tidal energy, and most recently the manufacture and distribution of micro-solar energy solutions including the modular solar attic fan.
From 1990 to 2008, Middleton was in the broadcast and entertainment industry. Initially she was with CUC Broadcasting, a Canadian media company primarily in the business of cable television distribution. She then worked in increasingly senior finance, corporate development and technology roles at Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., one of Canada’s largest and most successful international media companies, which was listed on the TSX and NASDAQ. She was Senior Vice President, Finance & Information Technology Services, with Alliance Atlantis at the time the company was sold for CA $2.3 billion in 2007.
Eric Ellenbogen, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair of WildBrain, said: “Rita’s entrepreneurial drive and deep experience with large public media companies, finance, accounting and management make her a perfect addition to our Board, bringing tremendous expertise and energy. We’re pleased to welcome Rita and look forward to benefitting from her insights and leadership experience.”
Don Wright, Chair of WildBrain’s Board of Directors, said: “We would like to thank Alan Hibben for his time on the Board and the outstanding diligence he has brought to his role, providing strong oversight and leadership. Alan has been a paragon of good governance, representing the best interests of WildBrain’s shareholders. We wish him all the best for the future.”
Alan Hibben said: “I am very proud of the improvements that the Board and management have made in governance, strategy and financial flexibility over the last few years at WildBrain. I am confident that the efforts made to improve shareholder value will continue and accelerate in the future.”
