Animation industry veteran David B. Levy’s latest book Animation Development: From Pitch to Production (see ‘The money side of the table,’ p. 86) delves into the inner workings of network development departments to give creators some perspective on not only winning over a broadcaster with a dynamite pitch, but also working through the lengthy and often challenging development process once a concept’s been picked up.

As Levy explains, development executives need creators just as much as creators need them; the real power rests not in one or the other, but in the combination of the two and how well they can work together. That said, no one development executive works exclusively on development. Rather there are multiple executives who work closely with other departments such as scheduling, interactive and marketing, to craft a channel’s ID. We’ve compiled a rundown of who’s who inside the nerve centers of three major global kids broadcasters to give creators a heads up on which execs have the power to greenlight their next great idea.

NICKELODEON/MTVN
Brown Johnson, president of animation, Nickelodeon, MTVN Kids & Family Group

Marjorie Cohn, EVP of development and original programming, Nickelodeon

Birkner Rawlings, VP of animation development, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids & Family Group

Teri Weiss, SVP of production and development, Nickelodeon

Sarah Tomassi Lindman, SVP and GM, The N

Amy Friedman, SVP of original programming, The N

International
Jules Borkent, SVP of global acquisitions and international programming, Nickelodeon

Nina Hahn, SVP of international production and development, Nickelodeon

DISNEY

US (Animation):
Eric Coleman, SVP of original series, Disney TV Animation

Jay Francis, Director of development, Disney XD

Leah Hoyer, Director of development, Disney Channel

Disney Channel:
Adam Bonnett, SVP of original programming (live-action series, U.S.)

Nancy Kanter, SVP, Playhouse Disney Worldwide (preschool)

Michael Healy, SVP of original movies

Disney Channels Worldwide

Original series
Paul Debenedittis, SVP of programming strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide

Marc Buhaj, SVP of original programming, Europe

Orion Ross, VP of original series, Europe (development)

Acquisitions
David Levine, VP of worldwide programming strategy, acquisitions & co-productions (co-productions only)

Tracy McAndrew, director of acquisitions & co-productions (co-productions only)

Dominic Gardiner, director of acquisitions, Europe (Playhouse Disney & Disney XD)

CARTOON NETWORK

US
Robert Sorcher, chief content officer

Robert Swartz, VP of original series

Ramsey A. Naito, VP of long-form

Acquisitions
Adina Pitt, VP, content acquisitions and co-productions

Rick Clodfelter, senior manager of acquisitions and co-productions

Turner Broadcasting Systems International
Finn Arnesen, SVP & GM for original series and international development

Daniel Lennard, VP of original series and development

Suzanne Berman, director of original series and development

Nicole Paglia, development executive

Acquisitions
Cecilia Persson, VP of programming, acquisition and presentation

Richard Rowe, acquisitions manager