Sesame Workshop Adds Two New VPs

Palak Solanki and Laura Smith have recently been appointed by Sesame Workshop to vice president of business planning and analysis and vice president of formal learning, respectively.

Solanki joins to identify and develop long-term strategic business opportunities and evaluate potential acquisitions and other investments. She will also be responsible for facilitating companywide strategic planning activities and conducting business analysis for key initiatives and ventures. Solanki had served as director of digital sales for strategy and business development at MTV Networks.

Smith is on board to focus on how "Sesame Street" can best provide effective and creative instructional materials for kits, professional development for teachers and new ways to engage families to learn together at home through conducting research and analysis. She will report to Dr. Lewis Bernstein, executive vice president of education, research and outreach. Smith previously served as assistant commissioner for external partnerships and research with the New York State Department of Education.

"We are thrilled to add Laura Smith and Palak Solanki to our team as part of our efforts to expand Sesame Workshop's educational reach by providing quality content for children in schools and communities," says Gary E. Knell, president and chief executive officer at Sesame Workshop. "Laura and Palak will be shaping new paths for the Workshop in today's environment where the models for education and business are evolving with the success of digital technologies."