Blue Zoo Welcomes Claire Horseman to Head Up Award-Winning Studio Culture
Blue Zoo Animation Studio shares the appointment of Claire Horseman as the new Head of People & Talent. Claire is stepping into a pivotal role in shaping the award-winning studio culture, following in the footsteps of Paulene Hamilton, who, after seven years at the helm of the studio’s people strategy, is moving on to well-deserved retirement.
Paulene has been nothing short of a legend, the architect behind Blue Zoo’s celebrated culture. She’s tirelessly built an environment where the team not only thrives but genuinely feels at home, and her work in nurturing talent has been foundational to everything Blue Zoo is today. Under Paulene’s leadership, the studio won a spot on Broadcast’s Best Places to Work in TV list five times in a row. The entire studio wants to extend its heartfelt thanks to Paulene for her immense contributions and wishes her a truly joyful next chapter.
In a fast-moving and ever-changing industry, Claire brings over 25 years of experience across the media and entertainment world and is well-positioned to help navigate the road ahead. She will be leading the 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.
Tom Box, Co-founder of Blue Zoo, said: “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. 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.”
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining the talented team at Blue Zoo,” said Claire 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 honouring the wonderful legacy Paulene Hamilton has built.”
Claire will oversee all aspects of talent management, including recruitment, employee relations, learning and development, compensation and benefits, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
