The Kitchen: an exciting 2024

The Kitchen International continues its global expansion plans with a highly aggressive and exciting foray into the New Year. The Emmy Award Winning language studio will participate in MIPTV 2024, where it will highlight a very active first quarter of the year: including the appointment of Julie Beneteau as the studio’s new Director of International Sales, who is based in London; the addition of Lilly Paez, as Sales Director, based in Miami, specializing in LATAM and Spain; the introduction of its Board of Global Influencers; and the nomination of the company’s President/CEO, Ken Lorber for the prestigious EGA Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Kitchen, fueled by the recent establishment of its premiere European media hub and Castilian dubbing studios, in Madrid, proudly introduced its inaugural Board of Global Influencers just after the first of the year. Comprised of industry veterans with diverse expertise, this international advisory board is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the studio’s future endeavors.

Deeny Kaplan, Executive Vice President, explained that new board members bring a ‘wealth of experience’ and a global perspective to the table. ‘They were selected for their proven track records, dedication to the industry, and individual, expansive networks. Our Influencers are our eyes and ears on the ground, are worldwide, and are all extremely knowledgeable when it comes to industry trends and predictions’.

The Kitchen’s Board of Global Influencers: Jennifer Chrein (Monier-Williams) brings over 30 years of experience in global programming and media distribution, specializing in children’s content creation. As the founder and CEO of JBMW Media; David Levine, a seasoned content strategist renowned for his role in developing several billion-dollar kids’ content franchises; Summer Yang, an expert in children’s programming, has established herself as a prominent figure in the European production industry.

Also, Jonathan Abraham, a seasoned executive in kids and family distribution, brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the industry’s evolving landscape; Markus Andorfer, a well-known TV production executive with a rich history of successful channel launches, brings decades of industry knowledge and operational expertise to the Board; Dean Koocher, Co-Founder of Kidstream and a seasoned media professional, brings years of experience to the table; and Christine Waage, with over 30 years of experience in the media business, brings a unique perspective and much industry knowledge and expertise to the team, with a proven track record of success in sales, business development, and programming acquisitions.

Julie Beneteau: Director of International Sales

Another of the season’s big news for The Kitchen International is the recent appointment of Julie Beneteau (Wasdell), a 20-year respected localization industry veteran, as Director of International Sales. She is based in London and will represent The Kitchen‘s aggressive overseas client growth plans.

‘The Kitchen‘s continued international growth plans, following the introduction of its first European language servicing “hub” this past October, calls for an extremely knowledgeable and experienced industry professional to service the vast market and Julie fits the bill perfectly’, Kaplan explained. ‘Julie’s understanding of the entire language localization processes is spot on, and her plans to expand the studios’ international reach are in line with the company’s ongoing expansion plan’.

Lilly Paez, Sales Director

‘Lilly is a goal-driven sales expert, with over eight years of experience in the content sales industry’, added Kaplan. ‘She has joined the team as Sales Director and will be responsible for the Americas and Spain directly while working closely with all global sales operations’.

‘There is no doubt that Lilly brings a fresh perspective to our sales team’s outreach globally’, Kaplan explained. ‘The need for excellent global localization of assets, coupled with the understanding of the demanding requirements of all formats and genres of programming, are invaluable in creating a diverse and successful sales team. We are thrilled to have Lilly with us’.

EGA’s Hermes Award nomination

Another piece of news that fills the studio with joy and tremendous pride is the nomination of its President/CEO, Ken Lorber, in the “Lifetime Achievement Award” category, for his outstanding career in post-production services.

‘I am grateful and humbled to be considered for this year’s EGA Hermes Lifetime Achievement Award. To be nominated for this most prestigious award, along with Bjorn and Ron, is a remarkable honor and the icing on the cake of a 50-year career in our amazing, ever-changing industry,’ Lorber commented.