Sesame Workshop has recruited former Roku and Disney executive Bernhard Gloeggler as its new VP and GM for Europe. 

Gloeggler will officially start with the nonprofit company on July 1, reporting to EVP and head of global enterprises Whit Higgins. He replaces Stefan Kastenmüller, who departed in November after serving as GM for Europe since 2020.

Responsible for steering Sesame’s European operations and long-term growth strategy, Gloeggler will also be charged with bolstering the company’s philanthropic development in the region by leveraging its brand power and increasing audience engagement.

“[Gloeggler’s] acumen in forging strategic alliances, navigating evolving business landscapes, and understanding consumer trends makes him the ideal leader to drive Sesame Workshop’s next phase of brand and commercial growth in Europe,” Higgins said in a release.

Based in Munich, Gloeggler joins from Roku, where he has spent the past three years forging content partnerships and distribution deals as a German territory lead. He also worked at Disney for 18 years, serving as GM and VP of Disney media distribution for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for the last seven.