Hasbro has named Meghan McCarthy as Head of Storytelling for the company’s Girl brands. In her new position, effective immediately, McCarthy will drive a multi-year strategy, developing deep story and characters across the company’s portfolio of brands, including My Little Pony and Littlest Pet Show. She also will work with film producers on the upcoming My Little Pony animated feature film currently slated for release in 2017. She will be based in Hasbros Studios’ Los Angeles office, reporting to Stephen Davis, EVP, Chief Content Officer.

McCarthy is an executive producer on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The series, currently in its fifth season, airs on Discovery Family Channel in the U.S., on leading networks in more than 180 territories globally, and distributed on digital platforms, including Netflix, iTunes and Google Play. Additionally, McCarthy is credited with writing and producing for several My Little Pony spin-off films, My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (2013), Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks (2014) and Equestria Girls: Friendship Games (2015).

The move is a signal of Hasbro’s further integration of storytelling across its blueprint. “Having worked closely with Meghan during the past four years and seen first-hand what an adept storyteller she is – clearly one of the best in our business – words cannot express how thrilled we are that she will be joining our organization,” said Davis. “To be able to benefit from Meghan’s ability to create expansive worlds and characters across our entire portfolio of brands is an incredible opportunity for the Company. Storytelling is at the center of our brand blueprint and Meghan will help us continue to advance our strategy of building deep connections and relationships with our consumers and audiences globally through rich content in all forms and formats – across digital, television, animated and live action films.”

Prior to her work with the My Little Pony brand, McCarthy has scripted episodes of Disney’s Fish Hooks and Cartoon Network’s Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends.