Los Angeles, California –The Jim Henson Company’s Global Distribution division continues to expand both its business and its team following the success of its children’s properties such as Dinosaur Train, Pajanimals and Sid The Science Kid, and the expansion of its third party licensing and distribution label, HIP (Henson Independent Properties) which includes The Annoying Orange. 

Richard Goldsmith, EVP of Global Distribution for The Jim Henson Company, announced the promotion of Andrew Thomas to Director of Global Distribution, Sales & Marketing, and the appointments of Karen Lee Arbeeny to the newly formed position of Executive Director, Distribution Business Affairs; Casie Shapiro as Director, Global Distribution, Sales; and Adam Lucas as the Distribution Coordinator. All will report to Goldsmith while Arbeeny will also report to the company’s General Counsel.

In his new role, Andrew Thomas will focus on television sales worldwide and will support the company’s clients in the TV, DVD and distribution sectors by devising marketing and promotional campaigns. Thomas, who previously served as Manager, Global Distribution, Sales & Marketing, has been with The Jim Henson Company for nearly three years, working on a variety of distribution-related sales and marketing initiatives. Prior to joining the company, he was a business development consultant at Rehab Entertainment and Consulting, Inc. 

Karen Lee Arbeeny will be responsible for managing contracts and media rights within the global distribution group as Executive Director. She served as Vice President, Administration in Digital Media at NBC Universal before joining The Jim Henson Company. From 2001 to 2011, Arbeeny worked at Comcast International Media Group, most recently serving as Vice President of Business Operations.  Previously, Arbeeny was a contract manager for third party acquisitions for Saban/Fox Family Worldwide.    

As Director of Global Distribution, Sales, Casie Shapiro will be focusing on home entertainment and digital distribution sales worldwide. Previously, she served as Manager, Domestic Pay-Per-View, VOD and Digital Sales at Paramount Pictures’ Home Media Distribution division, where she also held prior positions, including Sales Coordinator and Manager for The Americas, during her five-year tenure at the studio. Adam Lucas will be supporting the company’s distribution clients and managing its rights database. Lucas comes to the company from Comcast International Media Group (which later became part of NBC Universal); where he held the post of Technical Lead.