TeamTO Names Riva Studios’ Marco Balsamo CEO Following Acquisition as Co-Founders Guillaume Hellouin and Corrine Kouper Exit Company (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Jamie Lang Kicking off a new chapter for one of Europe’s premier independent animation studios, Marco Balsamo has taken over as President and CEO of TeamTO following its acquisition by Riva Studios Productions in December 2024.

The 33-year-old Italian-American filmmaker and entrepreneur will now oversee TeamTO’s operations, balancing executive and creative responsibilities while positioning the studio for growth in a rapidly evolving animation industry. “This studio has built a remarkable legacy, and we’re committed to ensuring its long-term success,” Balsamo told Variety of the changes. “We also want to expand our reach to international partners, strengthen our presence in the global animation industry and establish TeamTO as a leader in both original content and premium production services.” Co-founded by Balsamo and Tara Sibel Demren, Riva partnered with filmmaker Jay Oliva (“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns,” “Twilight of the Gods”) of Lex & Otis and investor Peter Bekkerman to form a new ownership group with the sole purpose of securing the studio’s long-term future.

The acquisition coincides with TeamTO’s 20th anniversary, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s history. As part of its commitment to preserving TeamTO’s legacy, Riva Studios has retained 90% of the studio’s employees.

The new management structure includes long-term TeamTO executives Clélia Santi (Head of Studios, Paris), Carole Toledo (Head of Studios, Valence), Jean-Baptiste Spieser (Chief Technology Officer), Olivier Plazas (Art Director) and Fanny Weber (Executive Producer).