On the heels of its acquisition of Ireland’s Brown Bag Films, Toronto’s 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 to managing director Natalie Osborne, Scott-Hansen will lead U.S. and global distribution efforts.  Osborne will maintain oversight of distribution, consumer products and third party content acquisitions.

Scott-Hansen was most recently SVP/group director broadcast, 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 head of Southern European Distribution at BBC Worldwide (where she also held a stint as head of European licensing).

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