Category Archives: People

The Insights People continues growth plans with new appointments and a head office move

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The kids, tweens, and teens market intelligence expert, The Insights People, has appointed four new team members in the form of Claire Garner, Lewis Townsend, Sam Nguyen, and Joseph Newton. With the latest swathe of appointments for the firm also comes a move of offices to accomodate the expanding business.

The Insights People specialises in research and insights on children aged three to 18 and their ecosystems. It surveys more than 5,000 children each week across five continents and 13 countries; more than 277,000 children a year.

Claire Garner joins to lead the bespoke research team and lead the company’s media effectiveness analysis service. Garner has extensive research, insight and media experience having worked at MediaCom for 17 years as associate director, and more recently running Manchester based More Insight.

Nick Richardson, founder and CEO, said: “Claire has been a great friend to the business, pretty much from day one, as she has worked with us on a number of projects. I am delighted that Claire has joined the company, in what is a key role for us, not only oversee our bespoke research team, but also to lead our media analysis and evaluation services, which we will be launching early next year.”

Garner said: “It’s so exciting to be part of a team again, and a team which is so focused on innovation and solutions. Working with Nick in the past, it’s always been clear that The Insights People is a dynamic business. With insight being a long-time passion of mine, being able to work with like-minded, forward thinking people is a fantastic opportunity.”

The company also welcomes Lewis Townsend as account manager, Sam Nguyen as research executive and Joseph Newton as junior developer.

Townsend added: “After spending my first few days with Nick, and the rest of the team it is abundantly clear how passionate and dedicated everyone is in this business. The company is at an extremely exciting stage where we are seeing growth across the globe, and I am delighted to join the ever-expanding team.”

In addition to the new recruits, The Insights People has promoted Beth Bleathman to the role of senior research executive. She said: “I am delighted to be promoted, and so proud to be a part of such a fast expanding business. I am really looking forward to continuing to grow with The Insights People, and to pass on my knowledge and support to the new research executives who join the team.”

CEO Richardson, said: “I am continually humbled by the quality of people applying for roles at The Insights People, and am absolutely delighted to have Claire, Lewis, Sam and Joseph on board, who all bring incredible skills, energy and a collaborative way of working to our team. And a huge congratulations to Beth on her well-deserved promotion.”

These appointments come after the recent appointments of ex-Reach Plc executives Richard Roycroft and Sarah Mitchell who join as commercial director and group account director.

The company also continues its recruitment activity with it recruiting for roles in research, marketing, tech development and data science. For further information on careers visit: https://kidsinsights.com/careers/

Moonbug Entertainment welcomes former Disney director David Levine to head of studio role

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The digital media company, Moonbug Entertainment, has named the former Disney director, David Levine as its head of studio. He joins from his previous role as VP of kids programming, Disney Channels Europe and Africa, UK and Ireland.

In his new position with Moonbug, Levine will focus on driving the company’s IP expansion by taking properties like CoComelon and Blippi to new formats, markets and platforms to support the company’s continued growth. He will report to René Rechtman, co-founder and CEO, Moonbug.

“David’s track record at Disney as a visionary executive specializing in children’s original content makes him uniquely well-suited to lead Moonbug’s creative, production and content strategies,” said Rechtman.

“This is a key position for Moonbug as we look to expand our content offerings around the world and develop more IP that delivers fun, educational and relevant programming families love.”

Levine brings more than 20 years experience in the media and entertainment industries to Moonbug. During his tenure at The Walt Disney Company, he was an integral member of the senior leadership team that built the Disney Channel Brand and led all strategic and operational aspects of kids’ programming across Disney Channels Europe and Africa.

Levine oversaw the direction of original production and developed and commissioned a number of shows including First Class Chefs, The Lodge, 101 Dalmatian Street and the Emmy-nominated TV series Evermoor. He also launched and commissioned multiple seasons of global hits PJ Masks and Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.

Additionally, Levine was responsible for spearheading LGBTQ+ inclusive representation in Disney’s programming, with LGBTQ+ characters and themes in commissions such as The Lodge and Best Bugs Forever.

“Kids content is playing an increasingly vital role in early childhood development, and now more than ever parents are looking for safe, inclusive, educational content they can trust. Moonbug is at the forefront of this transformation,” said Levine.

“It’s an exciting time to join the company, and I look forward to building on our strong producer and studio relationships while also increasing the diversity and representation in our content and on our creative teams.”

Prior to joining The Walt Disney Company, Levine was vice president at Ragdoll USA. He also served at The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company, supporting the billion dollar Teletubbies franchise in North America and South America.

ZAG names former MGA director Sarah Boyer is new VP or retail for North America

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The award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG has named the former MGA Entertainment director, Sarah Boyer, its new vice president, retail, North America. The announcement was made today by Julian Zag, executive vice president, global operations.

“We are entering the next phase of tremendous growth for ZAG and especially our flagship global brand phenom, Miraculous! Given the roster of new licensees coming on board, it is the ideal time to welcome an executive of Sarah’s caliber in the retail space to our robust consumer products’ team,” commented Zag.

“We have a wide range of new products slated to hit retail shelves in 2021 and 2022, culminating with the $100M theatrical release of Miraculous Ladybug And Cat Noir The Awakening and the launch of seasons four and five of the series. Miraculous continues to build across all touch points – television, retail, digital, theatrical – and we couldn’t be more thrilled with how our brand continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.”

Reporting directly to Kirk Bloomgarden, the ZAG’s SVP, global licensing, Boyer will manage strategic relationships across all tiers of retail for all of the properties under the ZAG Heroez label – an umbrella brand franchise that brings together the superheroes from ZAG’s animated properties.

She will continue our work in building best-in-class licensed programs, supporting licensees with product placement and promotion, working alongside our growing team of recent appointments, including Rebekah Belzer, VP, new business and retail development, Lisa Foster, VP, licensing, North America, and Elinor Schops, VP of games and interactive experiences.

“It is such an exciting time at ZAG with the global growth of the Miraculous brand, in particular, and I am excited to work with Julian, Kirk and the ZAG team to develop even stronger retail relationships to bring a wide range of products across all of the  ZAG Heroez™ brands to market in the coming years,” said Boyer.

Boyer’s immediate remit is to work with retailers for ZAG’s Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, for which over 150M products have been sold during the past three years.

The new toyline from ZAG Labs and Playmates will debut in 2021 in North America.  Additional new products to rollout include books from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (LBYR), a division of the Hachette Book Group; costumes and accessories for wholesale retailers from InSpirit Designs,a division of lifestyle retailer Spencer Spirit Holdings that owns and operates Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween.

Other new products soon to be available include bedding and home décor from Jay Franco, Bentex and Bioworld for apparel, Komar Brands for sleepwear, underwear from Handcraft Manufacturing, Hot Topic for DTR apparel program, PPE Foundation for face masks, Peachtree Playthings for craft and activity, Inkology for stationery, AXNY for smart watches, and Taste Beauty for beauty products.

Boyer will also work with ZAG Lab and Playmates across its portfolio of brands, including Power Players and Ghostforce, the company’s newest property, currently in production for Disney Channel EMEA, TF1, and Discovery Kids Latin America.

Sutikki welcomes Simon Philips to board and announces Hannah Mungo as CEO

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Sutikki, the children’s entertainment company and production team behind the popular UK show, Moon & Me, has officially announced the appointment of Hannah Mungo as its CEO and Simon Philips as its newest board member.

Both specialists in the licensing and children’s entertainment industries, the pair join Sutikki with a combined vision to build engaging global brands based on powerful stories, and drive the business’ commercial success through the production of new content and consumer products.

“I’m delighted to take the lead at Sutikki and drive the company forward for what is set to be a very bright future,” said Mungo. “Our vision is to create amazing content, maximise exposure of that content across the globe, and engage consumers with a 360-approach.

“Moon & Me is a great example of the quality, internationally scalable content created at Sutikki and I’m excited for the future opportunities that come with our existing and new IP.”

Mungo steps into the top executive role at Sutikki, a role previously held by Scott Greenberg, bringing with her vast experience across the brand licensing and kids’ entertainment space. The former head of UK licensing at Entertainment One was a key member of the team that built Peppa Pig into a globally recognised brand.

Most recently, Mungo served as the Country Director, UK and Ireland for NBCUniversal’s Brand Development division where she led a team across consumer products, marketing, retail and product development that leveraged entertainment brands like Minions, Trolls, and Jurassic World.

Meanwhile, Philips joins Sutikki’s robust board of directors to provide guidance on the company’s vision and the execution of its global brands. He brings a wealth of experience from his history as EMEA Executive Vice-President & General Manager at Disney, President of Marvel Entertainment International, and Managing Director at 4Kids Entertainment International. His creativity and leadership have resulted in billions of dollars in revenue and unparalleled global brand recognition.

“Building creative ideas into cultural touch points has been my lifelong passion and I see the opportunity to continue this legacy with Sutikki and its team,” said Philips. “I’m thrilled to be joining Frank Patterson, Brett Coker, Jim Garrett and Scott Greenberg on the board. Together, we couldn’t think of a better qualified person to step into Scott’s shoes and lead Sutikki into the future than Hannah.”

Trilith Studios, where films like Avengers: Endgame and Sony’s Passengers were produced, recently made a significant investment in Sutikki as part of its expansion plans into content. Other investors include JSB Toons.

Jazwares promotes Jonny Taylor to SVP Europe and names Holly Oldham its new MD for UK and Nordics

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Jazwares its advances its plans for European expansion with the promotion of Jonny Taylor to the role of senior vice president, Europe, and the appointment of Holly Oldham to the position of managing director for the UK and Nordics.

The latest development is part of Jazwares’ ongoing plans for European expansion, a strategy that has been in place for the past eight years with the establishment of offices in the UK and Germany.

Having established the UK office in 2012 and managed the German office since February 2020, Taylor will continue to support development in these markets, while also focusing on growth in other key territories.

Stepping into Taylor’s previous role of managing director, UK and Nordics is Holly Oldham. Oldham has worked in the UK toy industry for over 15 years, most recently as the managing director at Rubie’s Masquerade Ltd and previously leading Hasbro’s UK consumer products business.

Oldham is looking forward to bringing her extensive experience within the licensed consumer goods industry, working with world-class brands and market-leading partnerships to Jazwares.

Laura Zebersky, chief commercial officer, Jazwares, said: “Over the last eight years we’ve built a solid foundation in Europe with successful offices in both the UK & Germany. We are excited to have Jonny lead our expansion plans in Europe and we are thrilled with the arrival of Holly to the team. We have a talented European team coupled with a strong product portfolio, now is the time to take things to the next level.”

Golden Bear appoints Tracy Griffiths as head of brands and licensing amid brace of new recruits

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The Telford-based toy maker, Golden Bear has bolstered its brand and licensing division with the appointment of Tracy Griffiths who takes on the role of division head. In her new position, Griffiths will lead a team of four as the British company continues on its growth strategy in the licensing space.

Griffiths’ appointment is one of a swathe of new recruits to the Golden Bear team as it sets out its plans to drive further growth over the coming years, and expanding on its already 50-strong team.

Becs Henchey joins the company as senior creative development manager, heading up a team of seven, with responsibility for overseeing the creative process across both licensed and non-licensed ranges. Meanwhile, Saskia Hamilton becomes the new international sales coordinator.

“It’s a real coup for Golden Bear to attract talent of the likes of Becs, Tracy and Saskia,” said Managing Director Barry Hughes. “Becs is re-joining the company after a period of 12 years and we look forward to her utilising the skills and experience she has developed to really drive the creative team to new heights.

“Tracy, who is hugely well known and respected within the licensing community, has been working for us as a consultant for three years and it is a pleasure to welcome her on board as a permanent member of the Golden Bear team to head up both brand and licensing within the business.

“Our continued growth in international markets means we are delighted to see Saskia join the team to help drive global sales to the next level. It’s an exciting time for Golden Bear and our recruits are going to help us immensely with the next stage of our expansion plans.

“We have shown how strong and robust the business is despite all the challenges that Covid has brought about this year and we have been thrilled with the way that our staff have responded and how our products continue to resonate with customers.  2021 is already shaping up to be another successful year for the company.”

Molang team Millimages appoints former Walt Disney exec as new senior sales manager and producer

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The French animation studio, Millimages, the producer behind hit animated series such as Molang, Louie, Mouk, and Pirata and Capitano, has reinforced its commercial team with a new senior sales manager and producer in the form of Sépideh Shirazi-Moayed.

In her new position, the former Disney acquisitions manager will help to propel the studio’s success by focusing on the production of new series on major video on demand platforms such as Netflix, iTunes and Amazon. She will also be a key player in enhancing exposure on linear and non-linear channels across the US, UK, Germany, and the Middle East.

With a background in law initially,, it was a love for animation that drove Shirazi-Moayed to pursue a master’s degree in Audiovisual Marketing and Distribution, and from that point on her career quickly evolved from programming and acquisitions coordinator at major French channels Canal J and Tiji, to acquisitions, compliance and productions manager at The Walt Disney Company in France.

Throughout her successful career, Shirazi-Moayed has also held roles such as compliance supervisor for Al Jazeera children’s channel, as well as contracts administrator for Canal Plus’ legal department. Her years of experience working with some of the biggest names of the entertainment industry eventually led to her assuming a managing position at Disney.

“I am very excited to join one of the most established independent animation studios in Europe that develops, produces and distributes high quality family entertainment worldwide,” said Shirazi-Moayed. “I am confident that my background in acquisitions will provide me with the right tools to lead Millimages’ commercial activities to new dimensions.”

Roch Lener, CEO, Millimages, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Sépideh to the Millimages team. She will play a pivotal role in maximising the potential of our existing and future commercial success.”

Lisle Licensing welcomes Becky Sherwood to the role of commercial and retail manager

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Lisle Licensing has welcomed the FMCG and fashion and accessories expert, Becky Sherwood to the firm’s newly created role of commercial and retail manager. Sherwood took up the position with the company in August this year.

With over ten years’ experience across multiple sectors, ranging from FMCG to fashion and accessories, Sherwood boasts a breadth of insight across a number of disciplines, including product development and key client management, skills that are transferable to the licensing industry.

Over the past ten years, Sherwood has worked with the likes of Swatch Group as the UK and Eire wholesale manager, to account managing the influencer fashion brand The Couture Club, supplying key online retailer ASOS. She will now focus on two new licenses which Lisle will be announcing in the coming weeks, as well as developing the UK retail cross category relationships across the Lisle portfolio

Francesca Lisle, said: “Becky has an all-encompassing approach and instinct as to what’s needed to make a successful brand; her joining the team makes for  perfect timing as we celebrate our 10th anniversary and look forward to making some key business announcements in the coming weeks.”

Banijay launches its licensing and merchandising division Banijay Brands

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Banijay today announces the launch of Banijay Brands, a division dedicated to all areas of commercial activity, including brand licensing, merchandising, gaming, gambling, and music. The division will be led by the newly appointed chief commercial officer, Owain Walbyoff.

The new operation will represent an extensive and diverse portfolio covering entertainment, scripted animation, game shows, and kids, from MasterChef, Peaky Blinders and Deal or No Deal, to Simon’s Cat, Mr Bean, and Crystal Maze.

Following the recent acquisition, Jane Smith, group director, brand licensing will lead the licensing area, overseeing key brands from the world’s largest international content catalogue, comprising of more than 88,000 hours of original programming. She will also work with the network of teams in local markets to further expand the business.

Smith joined Endemol Shine in 2018, where she has substantially driven the growth of properties such as MasterChef, Peaky Blinders and Simon’s Cat within licensing and merchandising. 

Banijay Brands will launch at next month’s Festival of Licensing with senior executives available for meetings at the virtual conference.

Walbyoff, said: “Without a doubt we are a market leader in this space, and I look forward to seeing how we bolster the IP even further. Jane is a highly-experienced, strategic executive with vast industry knowledge, and with some of the world’s biggest brands in our portfolio, the possibilities are endless.” 

Jane Smith, group director, brand licensing of Banijay Brands, added: “Banijay Brands represents an incredibly compelling catalogue of globally-renowned, cross-genre brands, which we will be bringing to the Festival of Licensing. By partnering with the very best licensees in the business, we aim to create innovative and impressive products that our audiences and fans will love.”

The Banijay Brands portfolio now includes MasterChef, Temptation Island, Peaky Blinders, Survivor, Deal or No Deal, The Inbetweeners, Big Brother, Mister Maker, Operation Triunfo, Eat Well for Less, Simon’s Cat, Mr Bean, Don’t, Sunday Brunch, Tipping Point, The Biggest Loser, Ready Steady Cook, Black Mirror, Miss France, Maddie’s Do You Know?, Wipeout and Crystal Maze.

Licensing International names Graham Saltmarsh new MD of UK division

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Industry veteran, Graham Saltmarsh has been named the new managing director for Licensing International’s UK division, marking ‘the beginning of a bold new chapter’ for the trade organisation and its operations in the region.

In this role, Saltmarsh will be responsible for advancing the business of licensing across all sectors of the industry in the UK, creating programmes in support of current members and developing initiatives to meet the needs of future members. 

He has spent the bulk of his career in licensing-focused roles at some of the world’s most influential media companies including BBC Worldwide and Nelvana. Most recently he served as director of licensing and retail for the UK and Nordics at Turner Broadcasting, where he oversaw the consumer product and marketing activities for key properties including Ben 10, Powerpuff Girls, and Rick & Morty.

Before discovering the joys of licensing, Saltmarsh was a sound engineer and made extreme sports films. He is a passionate supporter of the licensing industry’s Light Fund and has run the London marathon and rowed from London to Paris with a team of like-minded lunatics. His future fundraising activities will all be beer-related.

“In these trying times it’s more important than ever to bring all the different elements of this amazing industry together to share knowledge and expertise,” said Saltmarsh. “I am looking forward to working with Licensing International and to connecting people who are passionate about licensing and retail to drive the business forward.”

“We are thrilled to have Graham on board, leading the charge in the UK for Licensing International,” said Licensing International president Maura Regan. “His deep understanding of the UK licensing community, combined with a fantastic ‘can do’ attitude is a wonderful addition to the Licensing International team.”      

Saltmarsh will officially move into his new role on 15 September and can be reached at gsaltmarsh@licensing.org.