CEO of animation company WOW! Unlimited Media Inc.
United States of America
Mr. Hirsh’s achievements have helped shape today’s era in animation production and distribution.
In 1971, Mr. Hirsh co-founded Nelvana Limited, where he developed and produced many of television’s most celebrated quality animated programs and in the process pioneered many of the worldwide co-production, marketing, and distribution techniques that have become standard industry practice. Some of the shows that Nelvana is best known for are Babar, Tintin, Berenstain Bears, Care Bears, Droids, Ewoks, Magic School Bus, Franklin, Little Bear, Max and Ruby, Rolie Polie Olie, Bob and Margaret, and Johnny Test.
Nelvana was sold to Corus in 2000 and Mr. Hirsh continued to serve as CEO until 2002 when he left the company.
In 2004, Mr. Hirsh co-led an investment group to start Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. where he served as CEO until the acquisition of its business by DHX Media in October 2012. Mr. Hirsh served as Executive Chair of DHX Media and Chairman of their Digital Sales Group through 2015.
In 2016 Mr. Hirsh together with Christian Davin, Bob Ezrin and Neil Chakravarti announced the formation of WOW! Unlimited Media Inc. where he serves as Chairman and CEO. WOW! Unlimited is traded publicly on the TSX Venture Exchange and combines Frederator, the #1 digital animation network and Rainmaker, the animation production leader.
