London-based production and licensing company Silvergate Media has appointed former Sanrio exec Lisa Macdonald as VP of EMEA, where she will drive growth across broadcast sales, secondary licensing and brand partnerships.

Macdonald’s hire comes as Silvergate looks to enter a new growth phase, marked by last week’s hire of former Disney exec Jeff Farnath as CFO.

Previously, Macdonald led EMEA licensing activities for Sanrio’s Mister Men property.

Silvergate produces animated preschool series Octonauts, which airs in more than 100 countries. The company also controls global licensing rights for Classic Peter Rabbit and the Peter Rabbit TV series, and its slate of new productions, including Netflix Original Hilda and Nickelodeon series Sunny Day. L.A.-based private equity firm Shamrock Capital Advisors acquired a majority stake in Silvergate last April, putting the company in a position to further expand its IPs, library rights and digital capabilities.