Cartoon Network Ups Lelash and Wigzell to SVP Roles
Cartoon Network veterans Curtis Lelash (left) and Tramm Wigzell have been jointly promoted to senior vice president, original series.
In this new role, Lelash and Wigzell will co-lead the original series group with the aim of growing the network’s portfolio of original video and multi-platform programming. Lelash and Wigzell, who are based in Burbank, California, will report to the network’s chief content officer Rob Sorcher.
“Curtis and Tramm are both well respected in the animation industry for their approach to talent and development, and their creative and executive acumen have resulted in some of our biggest hits and franchises,” said Sorcher. “This newly connected structure leverages diverse viewpoints, and reflects overall dynamics in the kids’ media landscape.”
The diverse viewpoints that Sorcher alludes to is in respect to the roles that these execs have played at the network: Lelash has handled mostly comedic series, while Wigzell has focused more on action-adventure projects.
Lelash, an NYU grad in English literature, was hired in Cartoon Network’s comedy department in 2005 (he had previously been in development at Dreamworks Animation). In 2008, he relocated from Turner’s headquarters in Atlanta to Burbank to become director of new and current series. He subsequently became director of comedy animation, and oversaw production of series such as The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack and Class of 3000, and served as network executive on outside shows like Warner Bros. Animation’s MAD and The Looney Tunes Show. Lelash also serves as an exec producer on Cartoon Network hits like Adventure Time and Regular Show, and most recently had been v-p of comedy animation.
Wigzell, a 14-year-veteran of Cartoon Network, had most recently served as v-p of multi-platform, where he oversaw the network’s cross-platform project Mighty Magiswords. In years past, Wigzell had been CN’s v-p of action adventure animation, with heavy involvement in the Ben 10 franchise, as well as Teen Titans, Mixels, Sym-Bionic Titan, The Batman, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, and Generator Rex.
