Aardman appoints new board chair from twenty twenty-six

Aardman, the studio behind Wallace and Gromit, has announced that Caroline Norbury OBE will assume the chair of its Board of Directors in June 2026. Norbury, founder of Creative UK, joined the board in 2024 and will replace David Pester, who led the transition to employee ownership in 2018. Pester will remain as an independent trustee.

Aardman clay animation studio boardroom meeting, Caroline Norbury OBE holding a miniature Wallace figure while pointing at an employee ownership chart, David Pester beside her handing over a clay Gromit model, stop-motion armatures and sculpting tools on the table, shelves with character maquettes and 3D printers in background, cinematic architectural visualization, warm studio lighting with soft shadows, photorealistic corporate interior, detailed plasticine textures, professional business atmosphere, ultra-realistic render

The technical management behind handcrafted animation 🎬

Norbury's appointment, with experience in creative and economic development, suggests a focus on the sustainability of the shared ownership model. Aardman operates with a governance system that balances decision-making between employees and management. Norbury will need to manage the integration of new technologies into the stop-motion pipeline without compromising the artisanal quality that defines the studio.

Norbury, or how to lead a sheep without losing the wool 🐑

Changing chairs at Aardman is like changing Shaun's clay: the shape remains the same, but you have to knead it again. Pester leaves the role after seven years of stability, just as Norbury will have to deal with the wolves of streaming and the desire to make a Chicken Run sequel in CGI. Good thing Gromit's cheese never expires. 🧀