Halifax, Canada-based DHX Media has appointed Lara Ilie (pictured, right) to the newly created position of rights strategy VP, reporting to chief commercial officer Anne Loi. Ilie will be developing and implementing strategies to monetize DHX’s IP across business units and territories.

Based in DHX’s Toronto office, she will be working with the senior management team to create strategies that keep DHX on top of market trends while growing its revenue. On top of all of that, Ilie will also be managing sales for the company’s library in Canada, Italy, Spain and Australia. Ilie has been at DHX since 2007, serving in various roles, most recently as senior director of sales responsible for Iberia, Italy, Benelux, Nordics, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Prior to joining DHX, she worked in sales and acquisitions for Romanian Television and Pro TV.

Meanwhile, DHX-owned kids digital company WildBrain has named Rachel Taylor (pictured, left) its new commercial director. She will be reporting to Jon Gisby, and responsible for growing WildBrain’s commercial partnership business with third-party brands. She will be leading the company’s sales and operations teams, as well as client management. Based in London, Taylor is joining WildBrain after holding roles at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox and Australian toyco Funtastic.

Both new hires follow a busy 2018 for DHX, including a strategic review which led to the media company shifting focus to streamline its production slate to focus on premium originals for streaming services and growing WildBrain. After that announcement, it signed a deal with Apple to create new Peanuts content including exclusive series, specials and shorts.