Mattel has hired Michelle Mendelovitz to spearhead the small-screen side of its business as head of Mattel Television Studios. 

In this key leadership role, she will be responsible for overseeing development, production and distribution of content across linear channels and streaming platforms worldwide. 

Starting this week and reporting to chief franchise officer Josh Silverman, Mendelovitz replaces head of TV Fred Soulie, who left Mattel earlier this year. 

She joins the company from Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Sam Branson’s banner Hiddenlight Productions, where she was an executive producer. Before that, Mendelovitz spent two years as an SVP and head of drama development at Disney’s 20th Television Studios. And she has also held senior positions overseeing scripted content development at Apple TV+ (Severance) and Sony Pictures Television (Good Girls Revolt).

Mattel TV has had a busy year rolling out a dozen new series and specials, including competition-based programming like Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge (NBC) and Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge (HGTV), and CG-animated series Barbie: A Touch Of Magic (Netflix).

Up next, the studio is readying a revival of the Barney franchise, starting with a CG-animated Barney’s World series co-pro with Nelvana that will premiere on Cartoonito and Max in 2024. And Mattel TV is also planning to release Hot Wheels Let’s Race and Masters of the Universe: Revolution sometime next year.

Mendelovitz’s hire follows on the heels of Robbie Brenner being promoted to president of Mattel’s film division in September.