Barcelona-based producer/distributor Planeta Junior appointed former TF1 CP manager Hélène El Arouni as head of consumer products and media in France. In her new role, she will manage media sales and consumer products for Planeta Junior properties like Miraculous and Maya the Bee.

She is reporting to Antonella Ceraso, head of the sales cluster for French, Portuguese and Spanish operations. This cluster was formed in March in an effort to grow the company’s presence internationally.

Before joining Planeta Junior, El Arouni served as a consumer products manager for France’s TF1 entertainment group, as a category manager for France’s TF1 licenses team, and as marketing manager for France’s LICOM Int’l.

El Arouni’s appointment furthers Planeta’s focus on France, after it recently joined forces with Paris-based Superprod Animation to distribute, licensing and produce kids and family shows globally. The partnership kicked off with the 52 x 11-minute animated show Helen’s Little School, produced by Superprod and Muse Entertainment. The agreement will also see Planeta Junior serve as master licensing agent worldwide (excluding French-speaking territories) for the 52 x 11-minute animated TV series That’s Joey.

Her joining the company also comes after several recent personnel moves for Planeta Junior, with former Warner Bros. sales planner África Vázquez Rubi joining as international animation sales director in July, and Emanuela Tartari being tapped as country manager for Italy and head of international softlines in October.