To bolster its consumer media strategy for its learning solutions, Boston-based publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has appointed Caroline Fraser (pictured) as VP of program development and acquisition and Leigh Zarelli as SVP of consumer brands.

Fraser comes aboard from Scholastic Media, where she was VP of digital products and production. In her new remit, she will spearhead content development for the consumer market and find new media channels for the company’s brands and characters, including Curious George, Carmen Sandiego and The Oregon Trail.

Prior to joining Scholastic, she held roles at The American Museum of Natural History and Disney Interactive.

As SVP of consumer brands, Zarelli (pictured left) is tasked with driving the strategic direction and expansion of the company’s direct-to-consumer product offering, which includes early learning solution Curious World and online math resource Go Math! Academy.

Zarelli joins the learning company from AOL, where she was chief operating officer of Patch Media and led the company’s mobile commerce strategy. Previously, she held senior positions in corporate strategy and product development at the Walt Disney Company and IAC InterActiveCorp.  

Both Zarelli and Fraser will be based out of the company’s New York office.