King Features has added new members to its executive team.

New hires include Ricky Li and Christina Nix Lynch as directors of licensing, Erinn Smart as director of business development and Sam Scholl as licensing coordinator.

The new staff comes as C.J. Kettler assumes the role of president at King Features Syndicate.

Li previously served as vice president of global lifestyle and retail at Discovery Communications. Prior to joining King Features, Lynch served as the sales and account manager at Discovery Communications for publishing, pet, promotions and consumables on behalf of their portfolio of brands including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Shark Week. Scholl previously served as an account executive at United Brokerage Services.