Michelle Mendelovitz Exits as Mattel Television Studios Chief

Michelle Mendelovitz has stepped down as head of Mattel Television Studios, Variety has confirmed.

Mendelovitz joined the studio in November of last year, where she oversaw the development, production and distribution of Mattel’s slate of episodic content on broadcast and streaming globally. A new chief has yet to be named.

At Mattel Television Studios, Mendelovitz was recently involved in the new Barney the Dinosaur animated series, “Barney’s World,” for Max and Cartoon Network. The series, announced as part of Mattel’s Barney franchise relaunch, will premiere in 2024.

In April, Mattel Television Studios tapped three new executives for key roles: Sidney Clifton as head of creative for animation; Cory Bennett Lewis as head of production; and Amy Suh as head of creative for live action, scripted and unscripted. They reported directly to Mendelovitz.

Prior to her role at Mattel Television Studios, Mendelovitz served as an executive producer at Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s Hiddenlight Productions. Before that, she served as 20th Television’s head of drama development, where she helped secure overall deals with creators such as Lana Cho, Jac Schaeffer and Linda Yvette Chavez. She departed the Disney-owned studio in January 2022.

Mendelovitz also previously worked as senior creative executive for scripted and unscripted programming at Apple, as well as vice president of scripted programming (Drama & Comedy) at Sony Pictures Television.

Mattel Television Studios produces animated and live-action series and specials based on its popular IP including Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Hot Wheels, Fireman Sam, Polly Pocket, Barney, Masters of the Universe, Monster High and Pictionary. The studio is premiering 16 series/specials this year.

Deadline was first to report the news of Mendelovitz’s exit.