Waheed Alli firm hires VP for EMEA

UK-based children’s television producer Silvergate Media has hired a VP for the EMEA region.

Lisa MacDonald has joined Lord Waheed Alli’s production and licensing group from Hello Kitty brand owner Sanrio, where she oversaw the Mister Men property.

The hire comes after Silvergate named former Walt Disney Company Latin America CFO Jeff Farnath as its new financial boss.

Silvergate is best known as the producer of CBeebies animated series Octonauts, and also controls global licensing rights for the Peter Rabbit TV and classic brands. It is also worked on new productions such as Sunny Day and Hilda.

A private equity firm, Shamrock, acquired the company last year, five years after former Chorion owner Alli and his business partner, William Astor, created the company.

Chorion, in fact, sold the Mr Men brand to Japan-based Sanrio upon a firesale of assets that followed Chorion falling to restructure its debts.