Blue Zoo Animation Studio — the award-winning, B Corp-certified London studio known for its work on cheery kids’ content such as Numberblocks, Pip & Posy, The Adventures of Paddington and The Smeds & the Smoos — announces the appointment of Claire Horseman as the new Head of People & Talent. Horseman takes over from Paulene Hamilton, who is retiring after seven years at the post.
Hamilton has been the architect of Blue Zoo’s culture over the past years, helping build an environment where the creative team feels inspired and at home, the studio shared. During her tenure, Blue Zoo won a spot on Broadcast’s Best Places to Work in TV list five times in a row.
“It’s impossible to overstate Paulene’s contribution to Blue Zoo. She has been our anchor, ensuring that as we grew, we did so with heart. We will miss her hugely, but she leaves a powerful legacy,” said Tom Box, the studio’s Co-founder. “Now, as our industry faces new challenges, our strategy is to double down on what makes us unique: our human talent. That’s why we’re so thrilled to welcome Claire. She isn’t just a people leader; she’s a culture builder who gets that the success of a studio comes only from its people. Her experience in helping people grow and adapt is vital for our next chapter of creative innovation and success.”
Horseman brings over 25 years of experience across the media and entertainment world to her new role, where she will be responsible for leading Blue Zoo’s people strategy — focusing on attracting and developing top talent, and ensuring that the unique, award-winning Blue Zoo culture remains at the forefront of the studio’s priorities. She will oversee all aspects of talent management, including recruitment, employee relations, learning and development, compensation and benefits, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining the talented team at Blue Zoo,” said Horseman. “It’s a studio renowned for its creativity, innovation, and strong values. I’ve long admired their work and culture. I’m eager to contribute to the studio’s continued success by focusing on attracting, retaining, and developing the best talent in the industry, while honoring the wonderful legacy Paulene Hamilton has built.”
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