Genius Brands Intl. promotes Stone Newman to President Global Consumer Products, Worldwide Content Sales & Marketing and hires Jo Kavanagh-Payne as SVP Global Distribution.
PBS promotes Dawn Ciccone to VP Brand Licensing, where she leads PBS KIDS brand licensing.
Amanda Hill is elevated to CMO of A+E Networks.
Chris Heatherly is now EVP Worldwide Games & Digital Platforms for NBCUniversal Brand Development.
CPLG appoints Libby Grant Global Business Development Director Brands.
John Rood returns to Disney as SVP Marketing at Disney Channels Worldwide for the kids and family entertainment portfolios of Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior. Meanwhile, company cuts another 250 jobs, or 5% of staff, from Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. This follows cuts from its Disney Infinity (300 jobs) and Maker Studios (30 jobs) divisions earlier this year.
Bloomsbury welcomes John Lomas-Bullivant as its new Intellectual Property & Brand Development Director.
Lowe’s hires James Han as its new SVP Business Development.
Under Armour names Jason LaRose as its new President North America.
LCI Brands hires Patty Stemp as its first VP Product Development.
Gund hires Bryan Bendavid as SVP Sales & Marketing of its Gundimals division.
Insight Editions will launch Insight Comics, a new imprint devoted to original and licensed graphic novels, to be led by Senior Editor Mark Irwin.
IDW Publishing promotes David Hedgecock to Editor-in-Chief and hires Chris Cerasi as an editor. CCO Chris Ryall will take on new responsibilities including pursuing new licenses.
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) appoints Alita Friedman as its new treasurer.
HTI appoints Nina-Jo Uttley to the role of Product Manager.
Scout Comics & Entertainment hires James Pruett as Publisher.
Emily Easton is promoted to VP & Publisher of Crown Books for Young Readers.
Nordstrom names Ken Worzel President nordstrom.com and shifts the responsibilities for two of its Co-Presidents; Erik Nordstrom is now responsible for the Nordstrom brand and Blake Nordstrom for Nordstrom Rack. Pete Nordstrom continues to oversee merchandising and store planning.
President & CEO Alex Smith leaves Pier 1 Imports on Dec. 31, 2016.
20th Century Fox seeks an injunction against Netflix preventing it from luring away employees under contract, such as recent Netflix hires Tara Flynn and Marcos Waltenberg. According to Fox’s suit, Netflix allegedly knew about agreements tying employees to Fox through 2016 before pursuing both employees and encouraged them to break their contracts.
The National Association of College Stores eliminates 17% of its staff, or 13 jobs.