Herschend Entertainment Studios has hired Sarah Maizes as senior director of development and executive producer. In the newly created role, which she started on September 13, Maizes is expanding the Georgia-based company’s development and production slate with a focus on franchises.

Maizes previously served as VP of television for The Jim Henson Company, but she left at the end of last year. She has also held positions at Amazon Studios, NBCUniversal Media, Penguin Publishing Group, Mattel and Nelvana in the past. Maizes founded independent consulting company Cheeky Squirrel Productions earlier this year to develop projects with several author/illustrators.

Herschend Entertainment Studios is the media arm of themed attractions company Herschend Enterprises. Its first kid-focused project was educational comedy series Splash, which it co-produced in 2016 with The Jim Henson Company.