Sesame Workshop Names New COO

Sesame Workshop has tapped Joseph Giraldi to serve as its chief operating officer.

Most recently, Giraldi co-founded CJBK Media Group, a consulting firm serving nonprofit, corporate and startup organizations by providing thought leadership and strategic planning. In his new role at Sesame Workshop, he will oversee the organization’s operational strategy to continue creating educational media, initiatives and products.

Giraldi remains on the Board of Trustees for TDF, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing the power of the performing arts to everyone. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the entertainment, media and technology program at NYU Stern.

Previously, he spent 12 with the Smithsonian Channel at Paramount in several roles, including executive VP of digital media and strategy, where he led global marketing, growth strategy and execution, including the build-out of foundational operational and organizational structures to lead the company’s international digital and product portfolio.

Earlier in his career, Giraldi served as director of digital distribution and strategic partnerships at HBO. He led the vision, strategy and execution of HBO’s expansion into digital content and emerging platforms.

Giraldi has also held roles driving new business growth at IMAX, Time Inc. and IBM.

At Sesame Workshop, Giraldi will report directly to CEO Sherrie Westin.

“Sesame Workshop has been using the power of media to bring quality early education to children around the globe for more than 55 years, and in this rapidly changing media environment, Joseph’s deep expertise in digital strategy and business development will be a huge asset going forward,” Westin said. “He has a proven track record in media and technology and is highly regarded as both an innovative and empathetic leader. I’m excited to partner with him to ensure that Sesame Workshop is positioned to deliver on our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger and kinder for decades to come.

“What I admire most about Sesame Workshop is the organization’s sense of purpose and long history of making a meaningful difference in the lives of children,” Giraldi commented. “Five decades ago, it used the cutting-edge medium of the time, television, to transform the way children learned and prepared for success in school and life. Today, the Workshop continues its legacy of innovation at a critical time when its mission has never been more needed. I look forward to working with the team to help carry on this incredible legacy.”