HIT Entertainment has appointed Shari Donnenfeld head of HIT Global Brands. Donnenfeld will report to Edward Catchpole, senior vice president, HIT Brands and will guide the global brand and marketing strategies for existing and new properties in the portfolio of HIT Brands including Thomas & Friends, Mike the Knight, Fireman Sam, and Bob the Builder.

Donnenfeld was previously at Nickelodeon, The Walt Disney Company and Fox

Kids Europe, and most recently ran a consultancy business.

"Shari brings unrivalled passion and a solid track record in working with strong children's entertainment brands and audiences," says Catchpole.

"It's an incredibly exciting time to be joining HIT,” says Donnenfeld. “With a portfolio of the world's best loved children's brands, and exciting slate of new properties now fuelled by Fisher-Price, I look forward to finding new ways of launching and growing the appeal of these brands as well as their accessibility among a phenomenal global fan base."