9 Story names Katrina Hitz-Tough as SVP, Franchise Strategy & Marketing

9 Story Media Group recently appointed Katrina Hitz-Tough to the newly created position of SVP, Franchise Strategy & Marketing. “We are thrilled to welcome Katrina to the 9 Story team,” said Natalie Osborne, the company's Chief Strategy Officer. “With our growing pipeline and team, 9 Story is well-poised to build hit brands that kids will love for generations. Katrina has an outstanding track record of establishing global franchises across multiple genres and her wealth of experience will be integral to this next phase in our company’s trajectory of transformational growth.”

Set to report to Osborne, Hitz-Tough is responsible for overseeing the new Franchise division with the goal of extending key 9 Story IP beyond the screen. She will be working alongside 9 Story’s in-house Consumer Products division, led by Co-VPs Kristin Lecour and Kyra Halperin, as well as the company’s Marketing, Digital, Interactive, Production, Distribution and Research teams. Her efforts will contribute tot he expansion of kids’ properties, including "Karma’s World" on Netflix, "Ladybird Lu" on HBO Max and the evergreen toy-based property Colorforms.

The executive brings in over two decades of experience across multiple industries, including entertainment, gaming, consumer products, automotive, consulting and non-profit. Her skill set includes specialties in brand strategy, franchise management, brand marketing, consumer insights, complex problem solving and relationship building. Her work portfolio spans across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. Prior to joining 9 Story, Hitz-Tough spent 3 years at Sony Pictures Entertainment establishing the Sony Pictures franchise group and building film-based brands such as "Ghostbusters," "Spiderman," and "Men in Black." Before that, she spent 9 years working for The Walt Disney Company, where she established the LEGO-Disney partnership, among other tasks.

Hitz-Tough joins a growing Franchise Team which includes Candice Chambers, who was recently promoted to the role of VP, Franchise Management. Chambers has been with 9 Story for over a decade in various positions across Distribution, Acquisitions and most recently as Senior Director, Franchise Management. Nygia Hearn, hired in the spring of 2021 as Director, Franchise Management, to help lead the charge on launching "Karma’s World."

“I’m excited to join 9 Story Media Group, an absolute content powerhouse,” Hitz-Tough said.“Based on 9 Story’s amazing new series, we are setup to build highly successful franchises that will resonate with kids and their parents in meaningful ways. I look forward to developing rich long-term brand strategies and experiences to drive growth for our licensing and content partners.”