On the heels of its acquisition of Ireland’s Brown Bag Films, Canadian prodco 9 Story Media Group has appointed former HIT Entertainment exec Claudia Balzer Scott-Hansen to the newly created position of VP, distribution.

Based out of New York and reporting into MD Natalie Osborne, Scott-Hansen will lead US and global distribution efforts, while Osborne will maintain oversight of distribution, consumer products and third-party content acquisitions.

Scott-Hansen has spent the past two decades immersed in transmedia platform distribution and global franchise development within varied markets, including Brazil, Mexico, Germany and Italy. She was most recently SVP and group director of broadcast for the Americas and EMEA at Mattel-owned HIT, where she was responsible for all broadcast strategies and distribution of HIT and Mattel properties, including Thomas & Friends, Barney and Monster High.

Prior to HIT, she was head of formats and Southern European Distribution at BBC Worldwide, where she also did a stint as head of European licensing.

Scott-Hansen’s appointment comes as 9 Story continues to bolster its distribution division and expand its global licensing and merchandising lines of business as part of its expansion strategy, conceived last year after the company rebranded following an investment from ZM Capital and Decode Entertainment co-founder Neil Court.