NBCUniversal-owned preschool net Sprout has appointed industry vets Dea Connick Perez (pictured), Chanon Cook, and Shane Lindley to newly created VP roles designed to foster continued original series growth and better inform network strategies.

Connick Perez joins Sprout as VP of program strategy and acquisitions, where she will lead programming and scheduling efforts and create new content for television and digital platforms. She was previously principal of Dea Connick Perez Media Consultancy, advising on acquisitions and programming strategies. Prior to that, she was acting GM and programming VP at Discovery Kids Media. She also served as VP of programming and acquisitions at Cartoon Network, and was director of acquisitions for Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite and TV Land for 11 years. Perez will report to fellow Nickelodeon alum Amy Friedman, who joined Sprout in April as SVP of programming.

Cook has been named VP of insights and strategy, a role that sees her lead Sprout’s research team. She will also be advising the net’s programming and marketing teams on ratings, branding and business growth. Cook was previously at IFC as VP of research and analytics. Before that, she was SVP of strategic insights and research at Comedy Central.

Meanwhile, as VP of digital, Lindley will expand the net’s content on the interactive front. He was formerly senior director of digital programming at Epix, and also held stints at Dreamworks, The Walt Disney Company and BBC Children’s Interactive.

The appointments, made by NBCUniversal lifestyle networks boss Frances Berwick, come as Sprout ramps up its original content efforts, especially around the holidays with several new original themed specials.