GLENDALE, CA — DreamWorks Animation (dreamworksanimation.com) has announced two new leadership roles in addition to a realigned executive structure under recently appointed president Margie Cohn. Kristin Lowe has been named chief creative officer, features, and Peter Gal has been appointed chief creative officer, television — newly-created roles. The appointments will strategically place all aspects of creative under one leader in each division to streamline management of upcoming slates.
In addition to these new positions, Cohn has aligned the marketing, public relations, business and legal affairs, human resources and recruiting functions for both features and television respectively under Michael Vollman, EVP, marketing; Courtenay Palaski, SVP/head of communications; Josh Meyer, head of business affairs; and Ashley Brinsfield, head of human resources and recruiting. All of these positions will report to Cohn, along with CFO, Kelly Betz; EVP business operations, Daniel Solnicki; and Robbin Kelly, head of legal affairs.
“With this new structure, DWA is positioned for growth as we continue to create beloved and award-winning films and television series,” explains Cohn. “Kristin and Peter are both very well-respected executives, and their leadership will only serve to strengthen DWA’s position as a home to the very best storytellers. The pitch and catch between the two divisions will ensure that diverse and unique voices can find their home regardless of the medium.”
In her new role, Lowe will oversee feature development, casting and artistic management departments. She comes to DreamWorks Animation after 14 years at Universal Pictures, where she most recently served as EVP, production. She has overseen production on numerous Universal box-office successes, including Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Night School and the Fifty Shades trilogy.
Gal is expanding his previous EVP, development role in the television business to include pre-school, current series, casting, music and creative talent management departments. He has spent the past six years helping build DWA TV into a prolific television animation studio. Initially tasked with creating stories based on characters from DWA features, like All Hail King Julien or The Epic Adventures of Puss in Boots, Gal has expanded DWA TV’s storytelling into reimagined classics such as Voltron Legendary Defender, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and is digging into Universal IP with the upcoming Fast & Furious animated series, in addition to originals.