Hulu hires Disney exec

US video streamer Hulu has turned to its one of parent companies to appoint a new head of distribution.

Tim Connolly joins Hulu from The Walt Disney Company, where he was VP of digital video distribution and new product development.

During his tenure, he led digital product distribution for ESPN, ABC, ABC Family and Disney channels and helped advance the company’s TV Everywhere initiative. He replaces Eric Yellin, who departed Hulu in January to join social-messaging start-up Whisper.

Connolly is the latest in a string of appointments by Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins.

Last month, he hired Tian Lim as chief technology officer and NBC veteran Peter Naylor as senior VP of sales. In October last year, he appointed Disney exec Elaine Paul as chief financial officer.

The appointment follows Hulu’s decision last week to sell its Japanese SVoD service to Nippon Television Network, less than three years after launching in the East Asian country.

Disney is one of Hulu’s owners, along with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and 21st Century Fox.