HBO Max Sets Kids & Family Team

At HBO Max, Billy Wee has been named senior VP of original animation, and Nikki Reed has become VP of kids and family scripted originals.

Wee will oversee all original animated programming for the WarnerMedia direct-to-consumer offering, including adult animation, kids and family and anime. Previously, Wee served as VP of original programming at TBS. Reed will lead premium original scripted programming in the kids and family space. Most recently, Reed served as VP of original series development for Nickelodeon.

Both executives will be reporting to Jennifer O’Connell, executive VP of original non-fiction and kids at HBO Max.

The group will create a deep slate of family-oriented, animated and scripted originals for WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer offering scheduled to launch in spring 2020.

“The kids and family space has a long history at WarnerMedia, from our legendary animation to classic motion pictures, and is now an essential part of HBO Max,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer for HBO Max and president of TNT, TBS and truTV. “We now have a top-notch team to create a slate of original content appealing to kids, tweens, young adults and the whole family.”

“Our kids and family team is extraordinary!” said O’Connell. “Billy has extensive experience in animation and strong relationships within the animated creative community, as well as substantial ties with our colleagues at both Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network. Nikki has worked for the industry’s premier kids and family networks and has developed some of the most popular kids shows. These two are the perfect architects to build our animated and scripted kids and family business with a tone and personality unique to HBO Max.”