Barnaby Cook comes to Studio Yes as CEO and brings with him plans for international growth, as well as a large cash investment. As part of Cook’s ambitious strategy, Studio Yes will bring sister agency Hell Yeah! Under its brand to achieve a strengthened and consolidated offering, encompassing TV commercials, branded content and brand films. A New York office, led by established comedy video producer Katelyn KaRese, will open next month.
Since it was founded in 2020, Hell Yeah! Has worked with household names from Oddbox to Belvoir Farm, with a specialism in humorous, effective ads, and on taking brands onto TV for the first time. Its summer 2022 campaign for Belvoir Farm was recognised as a top campaign in its category by The Grocer for 2022. Hell Yeah! will now operate under Studio Yes, with the team forming the creative arm of the business.
Cook co-founded his own production company Casual Films, eventually exiting after opening offices in New York, LA and Melbourne and helping guide the agency to multi-million pound success. Looking to replicate that success with Studio Yes, Cook plans to take an aggressive approach to overseas expansion, with the creation of a New York office already underway.
Senior producer Katelyn Karese is the studio’s first international hire and, with extensive experience and strong links to the comedy scene, Karese will be key to Cook’s plans for growth in the US market.
Cook explained:
“Studio Yes has achieved a lot over the past 9 years, with a strong point of difference through effective use of humour. I see lots of opportunities to leverage Studio Yes’ quirky approach and export our unique British humour to the US (as well as work with US brands to translate their humour for a UK audience). I’m really looking forward to setting up and building another production company Stateside.”
Studio Yes and Hell Yeah! founders Sam Ojari and Dulcie Cowling will continue to lead the creative team at Studio Yes. Dulcie Cowling added:
“We’ve built brands that are synonymous with making people laugh, either through our commercials, corporate films or our viral comedy sketches. Now with this new investment, and Barnaby’s vast knowledge and experience of the US film production market, we’re taking our ridiculously good offering over to New York and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Studio Yes is an award-winning video production company and creative agency that specialises in creating films that make people smile, no matter what the message. Founded in 2013, Studio Yes have successfully applied their “take silly seriously” philosophy to campaigns for leading global brands including Bacardi, Virgin Holidays and Uber. For more information, visit https://studioyes.co.uk/