Former Hub exec joins fellow GBI Board of Directors industry vet Anthony Thomopoulos, former Governor of California Gray Davis, Hollywood Reporter publisher and senior VP Lynne Segall, ROAR co-founder Bernard Cahill, and former JP Morgan Entertainment Group managing director Clark Hallren.
Beverly Hills, CA -- Genius Brands International, a global brand management company dedicated to providing entertaining and enriching “content with a purpose” for toddlers to tweens, has announced the addition of multiple award-winning children’s entertainment veteran Margaret Loesch to its Board of Directors.
“Amy and I are overjoyed to welcome Margaret Loesch to our GBI Board of Directors,” said GBI CEO Andy Heyward in making the announcement. “From her earliest days at Hanna-Barbera Productions and The Jim Henson Company, to her roles with Fox Kids Network Worldwide, Hallmark Channel US and the Hub TV Network, Margaret has earned a stellar reputation and unparalleled success in all phases of children's and family entertainment. She intuitively understands how to engage children and their families and has demonstrated that ability to the amazement of us all. As a Board member, her expertise and counsel will be invaluable to us as we continue to build the company.”
“I have known Amy and Andy for many years and know the unique focus and passion they bring to the business,” responded Loesch. “I’m very impressed by GBI’s commitment to develop and deliver content with a purpose’ for today’s young viewers. This is an exciting time for this Company's growth, and I’m very happy to be included on their well-respected Board of Directors.”
Loesch joins fellow GBI Board of Directors Anthony Thomopoulos, respected entertainment industry veteran; Gray Davis, former Governor of California; Lynne Segall, Publisher and Senior Vice President of The Hollywood Reporter; Bernard Cahill, Co-Founder of ROAR and Clark Hallren, former Managing Director of JP Morgan Entertainment Group. GBI CEO Andy Heyward and President Amy Moynihan Heyward complete the board. Loesch replaces Jeff Weiss, President and Chief Operating Officer of American Greetings Corporation, who will remain an advisor to GBI but will step down from his current seat on the board due to other obligations.
Loesch was the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hub TV Network, a multi-platform joint venture between Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc., and had oversight of all business and creative areas of the network. The winner of multiple Emmy® Awards and numerous other industry accolades, Loesch has four decades of unparalleled success in all phases of children's and family entertainment. Her extensive resume includes the development and/or production of some of the most iconic programs in children's television, including Smurfs, My Little Pony, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, X-Men, Jim Henson's “Muppet Babies, Animaniacs, Transformers and the award-winning preschool educational series Bear in theBig Blue House, to name just a few.
Throughout her formidable career, Loesch has held senior roles with numerous leading companies as both a creative and business executive. She was the first President and CEO of Crown Media United States, responsible for the creation of its US cable television network, Hallmark Channel; and President of Television Worldwide, of The Jim Henson Company, where she served as executive producer of Bear in the Big Blue House.
In 1990, Loesch became the founding President and CEO of Fox Kids Network, Worldwide, which under her leadership expanded its dominant United States network into Latin America, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and for which she was named Vice-Chairman. Prior to that she was President and CEO of Marvel Comics’ film production arm, Marvel Productions, where she executive produced multiple hit series, including G.I. Joe, Transformers, Jem and the Holograms, Dungeons and Dragons, My Little Pony, and Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies, and oversaw a tenfold increase in revenue.
From 1979 to 1984, Loesch was Executive Vice President of Hanna-Barbera Productions, where she oversaw the development and production of more than 500 hours of programming, including Richie Rich, The World's Greatest Super Friends, Scooby Doo and Smurfs. Her additional experience includes work with ABC and NBC broadcasting networks and co-founding the family media company The Hatchery.
Loesch has served on the Board of Trustees of Sesame Workshop, producers of the iconic Sesame Street, and on the Advisory Board of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media and the Board of Directors for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation.
Among Loesch's industry awards are multiple Emmy Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, a CableFAX Most Powerful Women in Cable Award, a CableFAX 100 Award, an International Film Festival (IFFF) Film Excellence Award, a Vision Award, the prestigious Chair Award from the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers, and Directors, and a career lifetime achievement honor from the Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards. Loesch is also a past BANFF World Media keynote speaker, and a recent inductee into the University of Southern Mississippi School of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) Hall of Fame.
Source: Genius Brands International
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
