Sesame Workshop appoints Sal Perez as executive producer of Sesame Street

Sesame Street producer Sesame Workshop has named Sal Perez as the latest VP and executive producer of Sesame Street Production.

Sal Perez (photo: Sesame Workshop)

Perez will manage production and creative direction of the iconic children’s series after serving as Sesame Street’s supervising producer and a longtime producer of international Sesame Workshop content.

The appointment, which makes Perez the show’s first Latinx executive producer, will see him report to Kay Wilson Stallings, executive VP of creative and production.

Beginning with Sesame Street’s upcoming 53rd season, Perez will oversee the production and creative direction of the series and related domestic social impact productions, digital projects and themed entertainment experiences.

Perez takes the helm from Ben Lehmann, who has been Sesame Street’s executive producer for the last five seasons and who plans to focus on new directing opportunities.

Lehmann will stay on for the current production season, working with Perez and team in a consulting capacity. He will continue to direct Sesame Street episodes in the future.

Perez’s career with Sesame Workshop began on Plaza Sésamo, the Mexican coproduction of Sesame Street, where he served as a producer for several years and oversaw Sesame production with broadcaster Televisa.

Perez also produced Sesame Amigos, a Spanish-language series for Univision in the US. In addition to his work with Sesame Workshop, he has served as a producer for scripted and unscripted television in Mexico, on projects including the first season of Mexico’s Got Talent.

For the past year, Perez has worked with the domestic production team as Sesame Street’s supervising producer, overseeing production of shows including season two of The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo.

In his previous role as Sesame Workshop’s senior director and supervising producer of international content, he managed creative and production on a wide array of projects in regions including Lat Am, Brazil, Europe and China. Throughout his time at Sesame Workshop, Perez has produced bilingual content for many of the organisation’s biggest social impact initiatives.

Wilson Stallings said: “Sal is a strong leader and an incredible collaborator with invaluable production expertise and a deep love for all things Sesame. I look forward to partnering with him and tapping his global perspective as we plan the future of the Sesame Street brand, helping kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder in our increasingly connected world.”