Xilam Animation has appointed Safaa Benazzouz to the position of SVP Media Sales Distribution for Latin America, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe.

Safaa will report to Morgann Favennec, EVP Global Sales Development, and will be responsible for sales across Xilam’s portfolio of kids’ animations, including Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig & Sharko, Paprika and new series Mr Magoo and Moka.

Beginning her role from 25 February based out of Xilam’s head office in Paris, Safaa will also work alongside Céline Carenco, SVP Media Distribution, who handles the Asia-Pacific, Northern and Eastern Europe markets, to continue expanding Xilam’s international reach.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Safaa to the Xilam Animation team,” says Morgann Favennec, EVP Global Sales Development at Xilam Animation. “Having worked closely with Safaa in her previous role, I know that her wealth of experience in maximising sales opportunities for kids’ animated content makes her the ideal candidate to continue accelerating our presence in Latin America, MEA and Southern Europe and identifying new areas of growth.”

The pair first worked together at French kids’ content distributor Superights, a company founded by Morgann in 2013 which Safaa joined as a Sales Assistant. Safaa heads to Xilam from that same company, where she most recently held the position of Sales Manager for Asia, Latin America, Spain, Middle East, Africa and In-Flight sales and was also involved in acquisitions and global strategies.

Safaa adds: “I am delighted to be joining Xilam during this exciting time of expansion. As Xilam continues to build its colourful portfolio of internationally loved kids’ animations, I look forward to once again working closely with Morgann and the rest of the team to bring the studio’s content to new audiences.”