Genius Brands International, Inc., a global brand management company that creates and licenses multimedia entertainment content for children, has announced the appointment of Kerry Phelan, a 30-year consumer branding executive, to the newly created position of Executive Vice President & General Manager of Global Franchise Management. Phelan will report to both Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO, and Harold Chizick, President of Global Content Sales, Marketing & Consumer Products.
Over a career spanning three decades, Phelan has taken part in some of the most famous and lucrative product launches in history, including Star Wars and the consumer products launch for Pixar’s cars.
In this new position, Phelan will report to CEO Andy Heyward and to Harold Chizick, president of global content sales, marketing and consumer products. Given Phelan’s record, the company couldn’t be happier, said Chizick.
“She Has Driven Some Of The Most Lucrative Franchises In History.”
“Kerry’s pedigree and reputation in entertainment branding is unparalleled as she has driven the global revenue streams of some of the most lucrative franchises in history,” said Chizick. “In the coming year, we have multiple properties launching into the global retail marketplace, including Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, which just premiered on Kartoon Channel!, as well as Shaq’s Garage and Stan Lee Universe plus more categories coming to market around Rainbow Rangers.
“Kerry’s leadership and strategic guidance will be instrumental in driving the growth of our brands around the world. She is a dream executive to have on board to help us achieve our long-term goals.”
As Chizick says, Phelan has been involved in some of the highest grossing CP launches in the industry. After she launched the Star Wars line with LEGO Systems Inc., Phelan was promptly hired on directly with Lucasfilm, where she led the entire global CP and promotional licensing business for Star Wars, one of the highest grossing franchises in the world.
Phelan Comes to Genius With A Legendary History In Licensing
Phelan went from strength to strength, next working with Apple founder Steve Jobs at Pixar Animation where she partnered with Disney Consumer Products to launch the first consumer products program for the hit movie franchise Cars. Phelan later did the same thing as head of consumer products and licensing with DreamWorks Animation. In that role she supervised the franchise management plans for all of the studio’s film and TV properties, including top hits like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and How To Train Your Dragon. During that time, Dreamworks’ CP revenue doubled in only three years.
Prior to joining Genius, Phelan served as President of Global Franchise Management at Lionsgate Entertainment, where she led the licensing effort for the studio’s biggest blockbusters, including The Hunger Games and Twilight.
At Genius Brands, Phelan will supervise the global management of the company’s existing properties across licensing, retail and promotions, and merchandising. Those include Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Shaq’s Garage, Stan Lee Universe, and Rainbow Rangers, as well as properties currently in development.
Phelan said: “The majority of my career has been spent building properties into global franchises, specifically in the children’s space. Having had a peek at the coming pipeline, I am excited about the future at Genius Brands and the opportunity to build bigger brand ecosystems around their properties.”
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