Alice Cahn has been named VP of development for Cartoon Network’s kids businesses, focusing on original entertainment programming for children 4-7. Cahn will be based in New York and report directly to Sr. VP of programming and development Bob Higgins. Her hire is part of a shifting of job descriptions that has been taking place in the programming/development department since Linda Simensky left the post of Sr. VP of original animation to become Sr. director of children’s programming at PBS.
In her new role, Cahn will be responsible for discovering and cultivating a variety of new original series and specials that will appeal to the network’s younger viewers. Additionally, she will work closely with the company’s online, marketing, ad sales and licensing teams in expanding Cartoon Network’s youth-targeted business off-air.
Cahn comes to Cartoon Network from The Markle Foundation in New York City where she served as managing director of Interactive Media for Children. Before that, she spent two years as Sesame Workshop group president where she oversaw all domestic and international creative development and television production, home video and audio production, and development and production of feature films. Among the properties she helped to create are Sagwa (with Cinegroupe); Tiny Planets (with Pepper’s Ghost); Dragon Tales (with Columbia Tri-Star); CinderElmo and Elmo and the Wolf (with Sony Wonder); and Elmo in Grouchland (with Columbia Tri-Star).
Cahn also served five years as Director of Children’s Programming for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in Alexandria, VA, responsible for the strategic planning and direction of all PBS children’s projects and the Ready to Learn Service, created in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. Original series developed, purchased and/or acquired for PBS under her leadership include Teletubbies, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, Kratt’s Creatures, Zooboomafoo, Arthur, Wishbone, Wimzie’s House, Tots TV, Theodore Tugboat and Noddy.
