Two months after RIVA Studios bought the company for US$3 million, the Mighty Mike producer has unveiled its new leadership structure.
February 18, 2025 By Ryan Tuchow
Paris-based TeamTO has named Marco Balsamo (pictured) as its new president and CEO.
Balsamo is co-founder of the Italian prodco RIVA Studios, which acquired TeamTO in a US$3- million deal in December. At the time, Balsamo and his RIVA cofounder, Tara Sibel Demren, partnered with Jay Oliva, founder of Lex and Otis Studios, and investor Peter Bekkerman to form a new ownership group to purchase the financially troubled French animation studio.
In an announcement issued today outlining plans for TeamTO’s future, Demren and Oliva were both named as TeamTO executive producers. In addition to his management duties, Balsamo will also act as a producer, showrunner, writer and director on multiple TeamTO projects.
TeamTO founders Guillaume Hellouin and Corinne Kouper have departed the company, which was a decision they made, according to a TeamTO spokesperson. Under the original terms of the acquisition, they were to take on roles of executive advisors and executive producers on current and upcoming projects. As of press time Kidscreen understands that they are not attached to any new projects.
The new ownership named long-term TeamTO employees as part of its senior management team, including Clélia Santi (head of studios in Paris); Carole Toledo (head of studios in Valence), Jean-Baptiste Spieser (CTO), Olivier Plazas (art director) and Fanny Weber (executive producer).
With this new leadership team in place, TeamTO aims to branch into adult animation and 2D animation, grow its slate with original RIVA IPs, further develop its existing series such as Angelo Rules, and advance ongoing projects that are currently development including Akira’s Flying Wheelchair and Yellow Cello and the Sea of Memories.
Balsamo and Demren founded RIVA in 2022. Its first live-action film, the Balsamo-directed sports drama Forza, is scheduled for a summer 2025 theatrical release. The studio develops and produces live action, 2D and CG animation.