Phil Knight steps down as Chairman of Nike after 40+ years and recommends current CEO Mark Parker as his successor. The Walt Disney Company taps company veteran Christine M. McCarthy to replace Jay Rasulo as chief financial controller and names Kevin Mayer chief strategy officer. Lucas Church, chairman of Endemol Shine U.K. and the Endemol Shine Group commercial board is … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Disney
Disney Reorg Aims to Shore up Video Games
Video games may be the closest thing mighty Disney has to an Achilles’ heel. The merger between Disney Interactive and Disney Consumer Products aims to fix that. The move is hardly unexpected. For years, DCP, which is supposed to focus on “traditional” games, has developed digital products like app-based story books, mobile learning apps like Imagicademy, toys to life like … [Read more...] about Disney Reorg Aims to Shore up Video Games
Marvel Avengers’ Mission: To Get Kids Moving
Walt Disney Consumer Products and toy licensee Hasbro will appeal to families interested in both active play and tech toys with Playmation, a system of toys and wearable devices that uses motion sensors and wireless technology to encourage kids to run around while controlling smart action figure toys from wriststrapped gear. Playmation’s Marvel Avengers will hit stores in … [Read more...] about Marvel Avengers’ Mission: To Get Kids Moving
Who’s News
Leslie Ferraro, a 16-year Disney veteran most recently as EVP of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, replaces Bob Chapek (current chairman of Parks and Resorts) as president of Disney Consumer Products where she will oversee global operations.Jim Gabel, president of Wolverine’s Performance Group, takes over day-to-day control of the Merrell brand after brand president Gene McCarthy … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Frozen Selling 10 Times Faster Than Last Year
If you thought Frozen was a one-year wonder, forget it. Sales of Frozen licensed merchandise for the year are up 10 times above where they were last year at this time, according to Disney officials during a press conference. Earned licensing revenues for Frozen are up 23% over last year. Of course, the big Frozen surge came at the end of 2014. Even so, the Walt Disney Company … [Read more...] about Frozen Selling 10 Times Faster Than Last Year
Avengers Dress Up Hot Topic
Mall retailer Hot Topic is going all out Avengers as the exclusive merchant for a new fashion line tied to Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. A Captain America halter dress, a Thor sailor dress, a Stark Industries bomber jacket, and more from Her Universe and Disney Consumer Products will be available beginning May 12. … [Read more...] about Avengers Dress Up Hot Topic
Fancy Nancy Going From Page to Screen
Disney Junior cut a deal with Harper Collins Children’s Books for rights to a Fancy Nancy animated telepic and series adaptation, targeted to premiere in 2017. The deal also calls for a host of merchandising tie-ins to be handled by Disney Consumer Products, according to Variety. Fancy Nancy is a hugely popular series of children’s books about a little girl who craves the … [Read more...] about Fancy Nancy Going From Page to Screen
Avengers Campaign Targets Fashion, Health
Disney Consumer Products announced what it’s calling one of “its biggest ever licensing programs” around the new Avengers: Age of Ultron film and offshoot programming; and given Disney’s track record, that’s no idle boast. The licensing program includes a push into what the studio considers high-potential categories, including female fashion and items intended to foster active … [Read more...] about Avengers Campaign Targets Fashion, Health
Disney Goes 4D
Disney and children’s publisher Bendon have teamed up to bring coloring books to life via new 4D technology. The Disney Color and Play app allows Disney characters to jump off the pages of the Bendon coloring books and into the kid’s iPad. Kids can also use the app to turn their own drawings into jigsaw puzzles. … [Read more...] about Disney Goes 4D
Who’s News
Bob Chapek, a 22-year Disney veteran, is moving from President of Disney Consumer Products to Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, effective immediately. While DCP has yet to name a successor, insiders believe that current executive VP of global licensing has the inside track. Kim Marie Song has been hired as National Strategic Sales Manager of MAC Group and will focus … [Read more...] about Who’s News