London – KidsCo has hired a general manager of global distribution as well as a global head of sales and marketing. This year will see KidsCo increase its focus on partnership deals with the larger pay TV platforms, particularly across Western Europe. As a result, KidsCo has increased its senior management team by adding, ex Disney executive, Loïc Autret, as well as ex group sales director at ESPN International, Chris Nicholls. Autret will be tasked with leading the global distribution team and extending the channel’s presence worldwide, including Western Europe, Canada, the USA, Latin America, Japan, China and consolidating its presence in Central Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia Pacific. Nicholls will be overseeing KidsCo’s global advertising and sponsorship, instigating localised media opportunities, pan regional sponsorships, and advertiser funded programming across KidsCo’s linear, IPTV and related media platforms. In addition to distribution growth, Nicholls will also be focusing on maximising audience size, appealing to brands targeting kids and mums.