Former Nickelodeon Exec Creative Director of Preschool Television Brown Johnson has been promoted to the newly created position of President, Animation, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. The driving force behind Nick Jr.'s "play to learn" philosophy and signature animated hits BLUE'S CLUES and DORA THE EXPLORER, Johnson in her new position will spearhead development and production for all animated programming across Nickelodeon, while continuing to oversee development and production for all preschool programming, including Nick Jr., Nickelodeon's programming block dedicated to preschoolers, and NOGGIN, Nickelodeon's 24-hour commercial-free digital educational network for preschoolers.
Johnson is a 20-year Nickelodeon veteran whose other groundbreaking preschool properties include GO, DIEGO, GO!, THE WONDER PETS!, THE BACKYARDIGANS and YO GABBA GABBA, among many others. Her creative leadership and brand strategy have made Nick Jr. the number-one brand for preschoolers, spawning multiple businesses for Nickelodeon, including an extensive consumer products line, NICK JR. FAMILY MAGAZINE and nickjr.com.
In addition to supervising the creative direction of contemporary classics such as SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS and the recent BACK AT THE BARNYARD, Johnson will also be shepherding upcoming Nicktoon series THE MIGHTY B starring Amy Poehler and THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR in partnership with DreamWorks SKG. She will supervise creative executive teams on both the East and West Coasts, managing the creative direction and coordination efforts between series production, on-air promotions, marketing and consumer products. Johnson will be based at both Nickelodeon's New York City headquarters and the Nick Animation Studio in Burbank, Calif.
Johnson joined Nickelodeon in 1988 as Exec in Charge of Production and in 1989 was promoted to VP, Production for Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, where she oversaw all Nickelodeon production, production management, talent and Nickelodeon Studios' production staff in Florida. Under her auspices, series such as CLARISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL, HEY DUDE, and DOUBLE DARE were produced, contributing to Nickelodeon's standing as one of the world's leading producers of kids' programming. At this time, Johnson assembled a Nick Jr. advisory board of child development experts, with whom Nickelodeon has been working to develop Nick Jr. programming and ancillary businesses. In 1993, she became VP/Exec Producer of Nick Jr. Production and Development. She was promoted to Exec VP, Nick Jr. in 2001 and Exec Creative Director, Preschool Television in 2007, adding oversight of NOGGIN to her responsibilities.
With Johnson at the preschool helm, Nick Jr. and NOGGIN have become pioneers in interactive programming. Her vision that preschoolers view television with an active mind and that their minds work best through play has literally changed the preschool television landscape. Johnson also developed and produced Baby Nick Jr.'s CURIOUS BUDDIES, a line of baby videos that inspire babies' natural curiosity through playful entertainment.
