Patricia Hidalgo Reina is a broadcasting executive and the current Director of BBC Children's and Education.
Moving to The Walt Disney Company in 2008, she worked in Spain, Italy, and the UK and was responsible for Disney Channel's content strategy across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the commissioning and acquisition of children's TV franchises, such as Disney Channel's Violetta, Mediawan & Zag's Miraculous and Hasbro's PJ Masks among others.
In 2013 she was appointed Chief Content and Creative Officer for the Turner network channels[1] across EMEA, overseeing their children's channels which include Cartoon Network, Cartoonito and Boomerang.
[2][3] Taking over her responsibilities during the COVID-19 epidemic led her to increase the amount of education programming available to children unable to attend school during lockdown.
[4] In February 2021 she launched a programme strategy to invest in British animation that might match the cultural impact of The Simpsons.