Mikael Shields

Mikael’s filmography is testament to his long-term creative vision and leadership. Over a period of 30 years Mikael has established an international reputation for identifying, developing and producing a wide range of hit film and television projects including Nick Park’s Oscar winning Wallace & Gromit, the global phenomenon that is Pingu, BAFTA winning Hilltop Hospital, the multi-award winning Flatworld and Aardman Animation’s Rex The Runt. Other projects include Noddy, Funny Bones, Operavox, The Animals of Farthing Wood, Narnia, The Borrowers, Pond Life and LAVA LAVA. Mikael has led creative teams in senior roles at the BBC, EVA Entertainment, Pearson Television, Atom Films, Ealing Studios and now at Acamar Films.

Awards

Nick Park’s Wallace & Gromit, The Wrong Trousers, Animated Short Film, Oscar Winner; Nick Park’s Wallace & Gromit, A Close Shave, Animated Short Film, Oscar Winner. (Both films ‘greenlit’ by Mikael as Head of Business Development for BBC Children’s International); Hilltop Hospital 1 BAFTA nomination and 1 BAFTA win for Best Pre-School Series. (Executive Producer); Flatworld, BAFTA nomination, Best Animated Short Film. (Executive Producer); Ten Minutes Older, Cannes Film Festival, nomination, Un Certain Regard. (Associate Producer); Bing, BAFTA nomination, Best Pre-School Animation, International Emmy Winner, Best Pre-School Animation, Winner, Writer’s Guild Award, Best Writing in a Children’s TV episode. (Producer, Team Writer, Series Voice Director).

Julie Fitzjohn

Julie started her career at KPMG London in the Financial Services area, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Julie’s ensuing career has included roles at Universal Music and Sony Music.  At Sony, she worked as label business analyst within the Epic and S2 label divisions, with projects including many large-scale artist renegotiations.  Julie also spent two years as part of Sony Corporation’s internal audit team, and carried out reviews of numerous Sony music, TV and film companies worldwide.

More recently, Julie has concentrated on Finance Director appointments in entrepreneurial or start-up companies within the creative industries. These have included five years at Global Talent Group (now Global Radio) where, among other projects, she worked on the purchase of Chrysalis Radio, and four years at Metropolis Group Limited where the management team completed a buy-out of the business.  As part of that buy-out process, Julie worked on raising private equity finance, a sale and leaseback of the property and the subsequent sale of the company to new investors. Since joining Acamar in 2014, Julie has overseen the running of  the finance and corporate finance teams where she has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of both functions as well as Acamar’s corporate finance initiatives.

Sandra Vauthier-Cellier

Sandra is a respected licensing executive with an established track record internationally, working with some of the leading children and corporate brands and blue-chip companies across Marketing and Brand Licensing, Retail, Sales, Promotions and PR, consistently creating successful international commercial growth strategies.

Most recently, Sandra was Senior VP of consumer products for EMEA at 20th Century Fox, where she oversaw Fox Consumer Products’ London office for the EMEA territories managing an extensive portfolio of key brands including Ice Age, The Simpsons, Avatar and Marilyn Monroe.

She has previously held senior executive positions at family entertainment companies Studio 100 Group, where she was Chief Brand Officer and led the company’s branding, consumer products and commercial strategy globally on Maya the bee, and at 4Kids Entertainment International where she was the Managing Director managing a number of key global brands including Pokemon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Microsoft Xbox 360. Before that, Sandra worked at the global leading brand licensing and consultancy agency The Beanstalk Group working on some iconic global brands such as Coca-Cola, Harley Davidson, Andy Warhol and Crayola.

Sandra has joined Acamar Films as Chief Commercial Officer to drive the global growth of the company overseeing global marketing & communications, licensing & merchandising, promotions, retail, experiential and product development.

Natalie Harvey

Natalie Harvey is a Licensing Professional and BA (Hons) Marketing & Modern Languages graduate, with over 20 years experience in the Licensed Entertainment Industry working in the broadcast, toy, theatrical and agent sectors for Wildbrain CPLG, ITV, Hasbro, Twentieth Century Fox and Mattel. Natalie has worked on some high profile, global brand franchises spanning all consumer products categories over the years, and has an extensive network of contacts across the licensing and retail industry. Brand franchises include In The Night Garden, Sesame St, Thunderbirds, Transformers, My Little Pony, The Simpsons and Barbie.

Freya Stone

Freya is an experienced global HR Director with a strong background in the Film/TV industry. Freya started her HR career in the fashion retail industry in Australasia before relocating to London. 

In 2013 Freya joined Entertainment One UK to head up their HR team for UK/EMA, followed by her most recent role of Global HR Director for Stink, comprised of Stink Films and digital agency, Stink Studios.

Freya joined Acamar in January 2020 to lead our Scale up People strategy and implement key HR processes to strengthen our business; with an emphasis on employee development, engagement, and workplace culture both within the UK and as we enter new territories.

Jodie Morris

As Executive Director, Content & Audiences, Jodie is charged with leading the global expansion of Bing across multiple platforms and delighting Bing’s audience with a varied mix of content formats and digital products. Working closely with Mikael, Jodie provides strategic leadership for Acamar’s Media Sales, Content Production, Audience Engagement, Digital Product and Design teams – ensuring that Bing’s audience needs are placed at the centre of every decision.

Prior to joining Acamar, Jodie was Director of Digital Content at Beano Studios where she played a key role in launching Beano’s multi-award winning digital entertainment network. Previously she was Managing Editor, Online at Channel 4 with responsibility for commissioning digital content and All 4 spin-off shows for brands including Made in Chelsea, Hollyoaks, My Mad Fat Diary, T4 and more.

Marianne Gilbert

Marianne is a qualified solicitor in England & Wales.  Her most recent role before joining Acamar was Director of Group Legal acting as interim General Counsel of ITV plc, where she was a member of the executive leadership team and led a global team responsible for legal and business affairs, M&A, litigation, rights and compliance operations.  Previous appointments at ITV plc include Senior VP of Legal Operations at ITV Studios New York, working on the corporate expansion of ITV Studios’ production capabilities and labels in the USA; and Head of Legal of ITV Consumer, where she worked on the digital exploitation of ITV’s library and brands. Prior to that, she was Head of Legal of Two Way TV.  Marianne started her career at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London and Paris.

Victoria de Wolfe