YouTube Originals kids & families has appointed Craig Hunter as its new global head of preschool. Reporting into head of family learning and impact Nadine Zylstra, the former director of kids networks for Sony Pictures Television will relocate from London to LA this summer.

In his newly created role, Hunter is in charge of all preschool content feeding into the AVOD’s originals pipeline for kids and families, which is supported by a US$100-million fund announced in 2019. A few shows have come out of the fund already, including Sinking Ship’s Lockdown and Pinkfong Wonderstar from SmartStudy.

Hunter is also tasked with growing YouTube’s slate of kids and family originals with new scripted and unscripted programming. He’ll be involved in shaping projects that are already underway for YouTube and YouTube Kids.

Before joining YouTube, Hunter headed up Sony Pictures Television’s UK business in linear and VOD brands, content acquisitions, commissions and programming for kids. He spent nine years there developing the Pop brand. And earlier in his career, Hunter worked at BBC Studios, Nickelodeon and Disney EMEA.