9 Story Media Group Appoints Katrina Hitz-Tough to Newly Created Role

Hitz-Tough will be senior vice president, franchise strategy and marketing.

January 24, 2022

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9 Story Media Group has announced the appointment of Katrina Hitz-Tough to the newly created position of senior vice president, franchise strategy and marketing. Hitz-Tough will lead 9 Story’s recently established franchise management division to drive growth for select IP in 9 Story’s expanding portfolio of kids’ properties, including the animated series “Karma’s World” (Netflix), “Ladybird Lu” (HBO Max) and the evergreen toy-based property “Colorforms.” Reporting to Natalie Osborne, 9 Story’s chief strategy officer, Hitz-Tough is tasked with leading the new franchise division with the goal of extending key 9 Story IP beyond the screen. She will be working closely with 9 Story’s in-house consumer products division, led by Kristin Lecour and Kyra Halperin, co-vice presidents, as well as the company’s marketing, digital, interactive, production, distribution and research teams.

Hitz-Tough has 25 years of experience across industries including entertainment, gaming, consumer products, automotive, consulting and non-profit. Hitz-Tough spent three years at Sony Pictures Entertainment establishing the Sony Pictures franchise group and building film-based brands such as “Ghostbusters,” “Spiderman” and “Men in Black.” Prior to that, she spent nine years working for The Walt Disney Company, where she established the LEGO-Disney partnership, led franchise management for the digital portfolio and developed consumer product brand strategy for brands including “Frozen,” “Cars,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and Mickey Mouse.

Hitz-Tough

joins a franchise team that includes Candice Chambers, vice president, franchise management and Nygia Hearn, director, franchise management.

“We are thrilled to welcome Katrina to the 9 Story team,” says Osborne. “With our growing pipeline and team, 9 Story is well-poised to build hit brands that kids will love for generations. Katrina has an outstanding track record of establishing global franchises across multiple genres and her wealth of experience will be integral to this next phase in our company’s trajectory of transformational growth.”

“I’m excited to join 9 Story Media Group, an absolute content powerhouse,” says Hitz-Tough. “Based on 9 Story’s amazing new series, we are set up to build highly successful franchises that will resonate with kids and their parents in meaningful ways. I look forward to developing rich, long-term brand strategies and experiences to drive growth for our licensing and content partners.”