Hecht's Old Pals Join Worldwide Biggies

Albie Hecht, former president of Nickelodeon's film studio and Spike TV, has gathered a quartet of old accomplices to lead day-to-day operations at his digital production studio Worldwide Biggies.

Leading Biggies' newly formed senior management team is Scott Webb--former executive vice president at Nickelodeon and senior vice president, creative director at Oxygen Media. As chief creative officer of Worldwide Biggies, Webb will oversee Biggies' studio operations, creative development and marketing.

Worldwide recently secured $9 million in funding from top investors including NBC Universal, which also agreed to a first-look distribution deal. Other heavyweight investors in Worldwide Biggies include Hearst Corp., Alan Patricof's Greycroft LLC, Platform Equity and Prism VentureWorks.

As serious as their business intentions may be, Hecht and his team appear determined to have a little fun with their new venture.

"The mission of Worldwide Biggies has been in my DNA for the last 10 years," said Webb. "By watching my own kids, I've seen firsthand the way today's generation of kids consume media."

Blaine Graboye, meanwhile, has come on as Worldwide's top media architect, spearheading interactive game production and software development. Most recently, Blaine established Outside Your Box, which has become a top producer of exclusive content for Microsoft Xbox Live.

Worldwide's new chief technology officer Christopher Romero came over from Nickelodeon Online, where he served as vice president of technical production. And Robert Gibilterra has joined Worldwide as chief financial officer. Gibilterra most recently served as domestic chief financial officer at MTV Networks.

Hecht isn't the only Hollywood biggie ransacking his old haunts for talent. Just last week, BermanBraun, the six-month-old venture from former Paramount Pictures president Gail Berman and former Yahoo Media Group head Lloyd Braun, brought on Geraldine Martin-Coppola as head of interactive. Martin-Coppola was formerly director of strategy at Yahoo Media Group.

BermanBraun, which boasts its own multi-platform strategic alliance with NBC Universal Television, recently signed an agreement giving Pepsi a first look to support and sponsor original entertainment content that BermanBraun develops for online platforms.

With Worldwide Biggies, Hecht has his eye on two demographics--families and young adults--with whom he has successfully engaged in the past. At Nickelodeon Entertainment, he oversaw the development and production of "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Dora the Explorer" and other hits; while at Spike TV, MTV Networks' channel for guys, he was responsible for the "the Joe Schmo Show" and bringing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship franchise.

Next story loading loading..