HIT Appoints COO

LONDON/NEW YORK: Sangeeta Desai is to join the senior management team of HIT Entertainment in the role of chief operating officer.

Desai will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company, and will oversee the business development, global brand management, consumer products, live events, marketing, communications and creative resources teams around the world. Desai will be based in London and will report directly to Jeff Dunn, HIT’s CEO. Previously, Desai was a principal at Apax Partners, a private-equity firm and owner of HIT Entertainment. Since Dunn’s appointment as CEO in March 2008, Desai has been working closely with HIT, acting as an advisor and helping to develop the company’s strategic plans. Prior to joining Apax Partners, Desai was in the U.K. advisory group of Goldman Sachs.

“Sangeeta is one of the brightest people I have ever worked with,” said Dunn. “She has a keen understanding of the HIT business and I am delighted that she has chosen to join us full time. As the children’s entertainment business shifts and changes, it is clear that Sangeeta will be a formidable asset to our company, enhancing our day-to-day operations and profitability and strategically positioning us for growth in the years ahead.”

“I am thrilled by this opportunity to work with some of the most loved brands in the world, alongside some of the smartest people in the business,” added Desai. “Fortunately, my new role enables me to continue to work closely with my former colleagues at Apax. However, it also provides me with the scope to manage all the operations of a highly successful, global business.”