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Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who’s News.
12/11/2018
DHX Media appoints Maarten Weck as EVP & Managing Director of its wholly owned subsidiary, the Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG). Weck oversees all global operations for the over 40 brands CPLG represents. He reports to Aaron Ames, COO of DHX Media.
Chris Rose joins Nick Intl. as VP Animation Production & Development, replacing Alexi Wheeler.
Funrise names Rich Magallanes as SVP Development & Production for its new IP & Entertainment division. Magallanes will focus on the former Saban series Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty, lead creative projects, secure production partnerships, and oversee potential content acquisitions. Current SVP Global Brand Marketing Randy Shoemaker expands his remit with overseeing the new division, focusing on franchise management and global content distribution for original properties.
The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) board of directors appoints Brendan Bell, VP Specialty Market Sales for Asmodee North America, as Director-at-Large. He replaces Mike Webb of Alliance Game Distributors. Separately, the board will not renew Executive Director John Ward’s contract and will be hiring another person for the role.
General Merchandise Chief Frank Doroff is set to retire after 27 years at Bloomingdale’s.
Gaumont adds Ben Bishop as VP TV Distribution for Asia, Australia & New Zealand (APAC) and Alli Farrell as VP Marketing. The Paris-based prodco additionally promotes Alexis Barqueiro to VP TV Co-productions & Acquisitions and Jennevie Olivieri to Manager TV Co-productions & Acquisitions.
The Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) appoints John Heron as its new executive director, effective Jan. 1.
Otter Media lays off 10% of its staff, or 140 full-time and contracted employees, as it reorganizes. Rooster Teeth and Machinima will be folded into the existing Ellation division, which already houses Crunchyrolla and VRV. Ellation continues to be led by CEO Tom Pickett. Fullscreen will be divided into three new divisions: Creator Services, to be led by Beau Bryant; Brand Studio, where Maureen Polo will lead influencer marketing and custom content; and Brand Services, where John Holdridge oversees social creative and channel management. The three leaders report to Otter COO Andy Forssell. Fullscreen Direct will close. Otter’s legal, brand marketing, finance, and some other teams will be otherwise “streamlined.”
Glossier President & CFO Henry Davis is leaving the company after 5 years to pursue his own entrepreneurial opportunities.
Zodiak Kids closes its in-house consumer products division.
Lion Forge cuts 12 positions (20% of staff) in a restructuring across multiple departments.
The Toy Association will induct three new faces into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame: Stan Lee (Marvel), Brian Goldner (Hasbro), and Joe Mendelsohn (Kenner).
12/4/2018
Women make up most of the marketing industry’s workforce and have near parity in leadership roles, according to a new study by the ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM). On the other hand, ethnic diversity is poor. The study covers 9,677 individuals at selected Association of National Advertisers (ANA) member companies. Specifically, marketing departments skew heavily female (63% versus 37% male). At the senior level, the gender balance is fairly even: 46% female and 54% male. According to TLL’s 2018 Salary Survey, 55% of licensing executives are female. Interestingly, we also found no disparity in salary, but some in bonus, even after adjusting for experience levels and title. Click here to see the full story.
L Brands appoints John Mehas as CEO of Victoria’s Secret following the recent departure of Jen Singer. Mehas was previously President of Tory Burch and starts in his new position early 2019.
Funko taps former Bioworld exec Rich Smith as its new Softlines Sales Manager EMEA.
Saucony, a division of Wolverine Worldwide, names Don Lane as its new CMO.
Condé Nast is combining its U.S. and international operations. To that end, Condé Nast Intl. (CNI) CEO & Chairman Jonathan Newhouse will be the new group’s global Chairman and Condé Nast CEO Bob Sauerberg is leaving the company. Both Newhouse and Sauerberg will continue in their current roles until a new CEO is found. Sauerberg will continue to have a seat on the board of Reddit, which is owned by Condé parentco Advance Media. Wolfgang Blau, President of CNI, is also remaining in his position. With roughly 3,000 employees, Condé is expected to trim staff. Employee losses already number in the low-to-mid hundreds, according to WWD estimates. The company has lost an estimated $250 million over the last two years. Separately, Oren Katzeff is appointed Head Condé Nast Entertainment, effective Dec. 17.
Newell Brands appoints Christopher “Chris” H. Peterson as EVP & CFO. He reports to President & CEO Michael Polk and replaces Ralph Nicoletti.
Paul Polman will retire as Unilever CEO next year. He’ll be succeeded by Alan Jope, currently Head of the beauty division, who will help the company’s biggest brands regroup.
Abercrombie & Fitch promotes Kristin Scott to the new position of President Global Brands.
Giorgio Armani Corp. names Gaetano Sciuto, form. president of Fendi Americas, as its new CEO effective Jan. 7. Sciuto replaces Giuseppe Marsocci, who becomes Deputy Managing Director Commercial at Giorgio Armani SpA.
The Copyrights Group renews its board of directors to now include: Chairman Simon Gillham (Member of the Vivendi Management Board and Chairman of Vivendi Village), Corinne Bach (EVP Operations & Development of Studiocanal), Peggy Bathias (CFO of Vivendi Village), Hala Bavière (SVP Strategy & Development of Vivendi Village), Sally Davies (CEO of U Live), Nicholas Durbridge (Director Copyrights), Sophie Kopaczynski (CEO Copyrights; a new appointment), and Anna Marsh (EVP Intl. Distribution of Studiocanal). Nicholas Durbridge continues as a Board Director and is appointed special advisor to Gillham and to Kopaczynski.
L’Oréal snaps up Christophe Babule to replace Christian Mulliez as its CFO effective February 2019. Separately, Cyril Chapuy is promoted to Head of its luxury division.
Columbia Sportswear appoints John Soh as VP & GM China, effective February 2019.
Start Licensing’s Ian Downes has joined Mojo Nation, the toy and game designer’s industry initiative, as a Non-Executive Director.
VF Corp. appoints Todd Dalhausser as Brand President Altra.
Pam Wallack joins Gap Brand as EVP & GM North America Specialty Retail.
Valiant Entertainment hires Gregg Katzman as Marketing Coordinator.
French department store group Galeries Lafayette names Marianne Romestain as the Head of a newly created buying division for ready-to-wear, beauty and accessories.
Jamie Givens is now CEO of Lacoste U.K. & Ireland, replacing Peter Lawley.
D360 names Kelsey Aikman as Director Marketing & Communications.
Brad Bentley is promoted to GM & EVP Direct-to-Consumer Development, WarnerMedia, responsible for bringing the company’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform to market.
Disney Channels promotes Kristin Corrigan to VP Engagement Marketing.
Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment hires Candisse Williamson as SVP Business & Legal Affairs, Joey Stern as Brand Manager of online community Skybound Insiders, and Samantha Crawley as Director Development. Additionally, Shauna Wynne is promoted to Director Public Relations.
Schleich U.K. hires Jen Hodges and Kate Watson each as a Key Account Manager.
NBA EVP & CMO Pam El will retire at the end of 2018.
J.Crew CEO Jim Brett steps down, leaving a team of four executives—COO Michael Nicholson, Chief Experience Officer Adam Brotman, Chief Administrative Officer Lynda Markoe, and Madewell President Libby Wadle—to lead the company until a replacement is found.
Eric Parsons is no longer the president of Gloster Furniture.