Michal Butel Appointed CEO of Hop! Media Group

Hop! Media Group has tapped Michal Butel, who has been with the company since 2013, as its new CEO.

Butel is taking over for Alona Abt and Tamir Paul, the group’s co-founders, who have headed the company for the past two decades. For the last six years, Butel has served as deputy CEO.

Butel originally joined Hop! Media Group as head of content. Prior to that, Butel served as content manager at Keshet and head of branded channels and local productions at Yes D.B.S. and is credited with the content development of many Israeli productions.

This news comes just after Hop! Media Group launched a new channel: PELE. Targeted for ages 2 to 5, the all-animation channel focuses on social-emotional learning and is the group’s fifth channel.

“Kids’ content has been a passion of mine for many years,” Butel said. “I’m thankful and appreciative of Alona and Tamir for entrusting me with their life’s work. I am confident that the group will continue to raise generations of kids in a safe, nurturing environment as we’ll continue to create and curate quality content that caters to our unique audience.”

Abt added, “We are confident that Michal’s vast experience will allow her, together with the team at Hop!, to maintain the group’s long-standing partnerships as well as expand into new creative ventures and reach new heights.”