MUMBAI: Nickelodeon Television executive VP/GM Tom Ascheim has announced that Nick Jr. and Noggin will blend their creative and management teams to live as one unified group -- Nickelodeon Preschool.

The new preschool team will be led by Brown Johnson who has been named Nickelodeon Preschool executive vice president, executive creative director and Noggin general manager. Additionally, it was announced that Teri Weiss has been promoted to senior vice president, development and production for Nickelodeon Preschool and Angela Leaney has been named senior vice president, creative director, Nickelodeon Preschool.

Johnson, a 19-year veteran of Nickelodeon, has been the driving force behind Nick Jr. and its preschool properties including Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, The Backyardigans, among others. In her new role, Johnson will oversee development and production for all preschool programming across Nickelodeon networks, including Nick Jr., Nickelodeon's programming block dedicated to preschoolers and Noggin, Nickelodeon's commercial-free digital educational network for preschoolers, states an official release.

"Brown has pioneered genuinely interactive TV and created a place where parents and kids will find the most diverse, unique programs and characters around," said Ascheim. "Under her leadership, Nickelodeon Preschool will continue these traditions and invent new ways for the audience to play along, new ways for parents to feel great about our brands."

Weiss will report to Johnson and expand her role to develop and produce the next generation of series.

In addition, Leaney will also report to Johnson and will bring her branding experience and creative eye to Nick Jr. and Noggin. In addition, Leaney will partner with Nickelodeon marketing and Nickelodeon digital to continue to build both brands.