Margaret Loesch
President and Chief Executive Officer
Margaret Loesch is the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hub Network, champions of family fun and the only network dedicated to providing kids and their families entertainment they can watch together. Loesch oversees all business and creative areas of the network. The Hub Network is a multi-platform joint venture between Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc. On October 10, 2010 it re-branded from the former Discovery Kids Network and presently reaches nearly 71 million U.S. cable and satellite households.
The winner of multiple Emmy® Awards and numerous other industry awards, Loesch has four decades of unparalleled success in all phases of children's and family entertainment. Her extensive resume includes the development and/or production of some of the most iconic programs in children's television: "Smurfs," "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," "X-Men," Jim Henson's "Muppet Babies," "Animaniacs," "Transformers" and the award-winning preschool educational series "Bear in the Big Blue House," to name just a few.
During her long and successful career, Loesch has held senior roles with numerous leading companies as both a creative and business executive. She was the first President and CEO of Crown Media United States, responsible for the creation of its U.S. cable television network, Hallmark Channel; and President of Television, Worldwide, of the Jim Henson Group, where she served as executive producer of "Bear in the Big Blue House."
In 1990, Loesch became the founding President and CEO of Fox Kids Network, Worldwide, which under her leadership expanded its dominant United States network into Latin America, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and for which she was named Vice-Chairman. Prior to that she was President and CEO of Marvel Comics' film production arm, Marvel Productions, where she executive produced multiple hit series, including "G.I. Joe," "Transformers," "Jem and the Holograms," "Dungeons and Dragons," "My Little Pony," and "Jim Henson's Muppet Babies," and oversaw a tenfold increase in revenue.
From 1979 to 1984, she was Executive Vice President of Hanna-Barbera Productions, where she oversaw the development and production of more than 500 hours of programming, including "Richie Rich," "The World's Greatest Super Friends," "Scooby Doo," and "Smurfs." Loesch's additional experience includes work with ABC and NBC broadcasting networks. She also co-founded the family media company The Hatchery.
Her deep commitment to quality children's and family television entertainment is further demonstrated by her involvement in various industry organizations. She has served on the board of trustees of Sesame Workshop, the acclaimed producers of educational children's programs, including the iconic "Sesame Street." She is currently on the advisory board of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media. She also serves as Vice Chairman of the board of directors for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation.
Among Loesch's industry awards are multiple Emmy® Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, a CableFAX Most Powerful Women in Cable Award, a CableFAX 100 Award, an International Film Festival (IFFF) Film Excellence Award, a Vision Award, the prestigious Chair Award from the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers, and Directors, and a career lifetime achievement honor from the Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards. Loesch is also a past BANFF World Media keynote speaker, and a recent inductee into the University of Southern Mississippi School of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) Hall of Fame.