The CEO of Beano Studios Emma Scott is leaving the business after five years in which she has propelled Britain’s most iconic and beloved comic brand to become an award-winning global entertainment business including a TV production company, a unique digital and ecommerce platform and a creative agency gaining insights into Gen Alpha.
Beano.com, the digital platform which launched in 2016, now has 2.4m monthly average users and is well-known for its unique mix of fun and safe content. The Beano comic is in excellent health and its most famous characters, Dennis and Gnasher, have been animated and reenergised for a global TV audience in almost 100 countries, including the UK and the US, and across Europe and Asia. An exciting new slate of live action TV shows aimed at Teens and Young Adults has also been created based on comic archive characters.
The creative agency which Emma created, Trouble, has carved success in young/teen advertising and research, supported by rich GDPR compliant data powering the ‘Beano Brain’. Clients have included the Bank of England, the Lawn Tennis Association, the United Nations and The FA.
Emma says: “After five years leading Beano Studios, driving the reinvention of the Beano brand and the creation of a digital-first business, I have decided now is the right time to seek a new challenge. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built around a brand that now transcends generations.
“The Beano comic is in rude health, the second season of International Emmy-nominated Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed is about to air around the world and the Beano.com audience is booming here and in the US. Trouble is delivering work for major brands and we have a truly exciting slate of Teen/YA live action TV shows.
“I would like to thank the multi-award winning team at Beano Studios for their great work and our shareholders at DC Thomson for their support. We saw the Beano through its 80th birthday and it’s been a privilege to be the caretaker of the Beano brand during this time, never losing sight of its mischievous spirit. I am very proud of all that we have achieved to make the Beano brand relevant, fun and safe for this and future generations.”
James Clayton, Beano Studios Chairman, says: “I would like to thank Emma for her vision and leadership, her brilliant creative and commercial talents and for creating a world-beating team. She has transformed the Beano brand and has been the most fantastic steward for the Beano over the last five years. I wish her all the very best in her new ventures.”
Emma will leave the business on the 9th of July and David Guppy, CFO / COO at Beano Studios, will become Interim CEO.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Emma joined Beano Studios having been CEO of Freesat. She previously launched Freeview and was Chief of Staff to BBC Director-General, Greg Dyke.
In the last five years, under Emma’s leadership, Beano Studios has:-
Created two series of the global animation hit, Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed, nominated for an International Emmy and now televised in 91 territories though partners including Netflix, CBBC, SuperRTL, France Television and Dreamworks Asia
Created the hugely popular Beano.com which now reaches 2.4m kids monthly, delivering ecommerce revenues, data and insights
Launched first party data and insight products – known as the Beano Brain
Established a creative and insights agency, with clients including the Bank of England, the Lawn Tennis Association, the United Nations and The FA
Developed a slate of Teen/Young Adult live action dramas currently being pitched in the US and UK
Beano comic subscriptions have grown by over 100% in a declining market
