Archive for the ‘People’ Category
« Older Entries | Newer Entries »This post was written by Justin McCraw
New Hero to Wear Spider-Man’s Mask
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Following a worldwide search for the next Spider-Man, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios selected Andrew Garfield to play Peter Parker. Garfield’s upcoming works include The Social Network, about the founding of Facebook, and Never Let Me Go, which he stars alongside Keira Knightley.
The next film, set to release July 3, 2012, is based on a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and will be directed by Marc Webb. Previous Peter Parker star Tobey Maguire reportedly left the project, along with director Sam Raimi, following setbacks.
Tags: Andrew Garfield, Columbia Pictures, Facebook, James Vanderbilt, Keira Knightley, Marc Webb, Marvel Studios, Never Let Me Go, Peter Parker, Sam Raimi, Spider-Man, The Social Network, Tobey Maguire
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This post was written by Justin McCraw
Walmart Shuffles Global.com, U.S. Leadership
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Walmart announced new CEO appointments for both its U.S. enterprise and Global.com. Vice Chairman of Walmart Eduardo Castro-Wright has been appointed as Global’s president and CEO, while Bill Simon (pictured above) is Walmart’s new U.S. president and CEO.
Castro-Wright will maintain his seat as vice chairman, while both men report to Walmart’s President and CEO Mike Duke. Simon, previously Walmart’s COO, starts his new position immediately, whereas Castro-Wright takes over August 1.
Tags: Bill Simon. Mike Duke, Eduardo Castro-Wright, Global, Walmart
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Nick Launches Merchandising Programs for Series
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
Nickelodeon Consumer Products (NCP) is launching merchandising and licensing programs for four of its popular series: Big Time Rush, Victorious, Fanboy and Chum Chum, and Team Umizoomi. The programs will span toys, accessories, home décor, apparel, packaged goods, social expressions, and more.
Big Time Rush is a live-action series that chronicles the journey of four best friends who get a chance to be part of the glamorous L.A. pop music scene.
Victorious is a series about a teen called Tori who lands an invitation to enroll in an elite performing arts high school. As she navigates her way through the school and its challenging curriculum, she meets other gifted teens like herself.
Fanboy & Chum Chum, which averages 32 million monthly viewers, tells the story of a boy named Fanboy; his best friend and trusty sidekick, Chum Chum; and their hyper imagination.
Team Umizoomi, a preschool series focused entirely on math, combines action-adventure missions with an interactive math curriculum.
Tags: Big Time Rush, Fanboy and Chum Chum, Nickelodeon, Team Umizoomi, The Last Airbender, Victorious
Posted in Licenses, New Products, News, People | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Bananagrams Inventor, Abe Nathanson, Passes Away
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
Abraham Nathanson, inventor of Bananagrams and founder of Bananagrams, LLC, passed away Sunday morning at his beachfront home at Bonnet Shores, R.I., surrounded by family. He was 80 years old.
In 2006, Nathanson, affectionately known as Abe, created Bananagrams at the age of 76. His new venture was launched with the help of his daughter, Rena, and her children, Aaron and Ava. In 2009, Bananagrams won “Game of the Year” at the Toy Industry Association’s Toy of The Year (TOTY) Awards. The company’s other games include Zip-It, Fruitominos, Oh-Spell!, Pairs in Pears, and Appleletters.
Tags: Abe Nathanson, Bananagrams
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This post was written by jsinclair
Twentieth Century Fox Restructures Licensing Division
Monday, June 7th, 2010
Twentieth Century Fox Television has implemented a strategic restructuring of its licensing division intended to focus on long-term brand building and immediate growth of its international businesses. Under the newly created banner Fox Consumer Products, Executive Vice President Robert Marick has appointed a team of senior executives charged with strategically exploiting the company’s television and feature film properties through consumer products, retail partnerships, and licensing initiatives.
To head the Global Brand Management team, Marick has tapped Pam Kunick-Cohen as its new senior vice president. Her team is tasked to determine long-term franchise opportunities both domestically and globally.
In order to translate the lineup of television and film properties into new products, a new Senior Vice President of Global Creative has been named—riCardo crespo.
The newly designated Global Category Management team will include Gary Rosenfeld, senior vice president of new media, who will continue his role overseeing Fox’s portfolio of video game projects and managing the division’s games development staff. Lora Cohn will serve as vice president, toys & social expressions, while Virginia King is vice president, fashion & home.
As Fox Consumer Products sets its sights on expanding sales across the globe, Marick has developed teams to cover four distinct regions: North America, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. This new approach is designed to strengthen operations in these regions and foster a deeper understanding of these individual marketplaces.
Each of the new members of the Fox Consumer Products team will be in attendance at Licensing Show.
Tags: Fox Consumer Products, Twentieth Century Fox
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Zoobies Hires New CEO
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Zoobies, LLC has hired Arete Passas as CEO of the company. Passas has extensive consumer goods and toy experience, working at companies such as Proctor & Gamble, Crayola, Scholastic, and Mattel. Formerly, Passas was the CEO of Manhattan Toy Company.
Passas has also served as a director on the Toy Industry Association board and chaired the committee for the ToyCon industry conference.
Tags: Arete Passas, Manhattan Toy Company, Zoobies
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
JAKKS Pacific Founder Dies
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
JAKKS Pacific founder, Jack Friedman, died on Monday, May 3, after being hospitalized for several weeks. Friedman was 70.
JAKKS’ CEO Stephen Berman said, “Jack was a legendary toymaker and a real titan in our industry. He dedicated his talents to JAKKS Pacific for 15 years, and he will be sorely missed. On behalf of all JAKKS employees, we send our sincere condolences to his wife Karen and his children for their loss.”
Friedman founded JAKKS Pacific in January 1995, and he served as the company’s chairman and CEO through March 31, 2010. He retired from his regular duties at the company to spend more time with his family.
Tags: Jack Friedman, JAKKS Pacific
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Child’s Play President Wins Social Media Innovator of the Year
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Stephanie Azzarone, president of Child’s Play Communications, has won the Gold award for Social Media Innovator of the Year in the 2010 Bulldog Awards for Excellence in Media and Public Relations.
Child’s Play Communications specializes in public relations, social media, and word-of-mouth communications targeted to moms. Azzarone recognized early on that mothers were using social media as their communications channel of choice. In 2006, before many agencies took the plunge, Child’s Play began reaching out to moms in social media.
Tags: Bulldog Awards, Child's Play Communications, mommy bloggers, moms, social media, Stephanie Azzarone, Twitter
Posted in News, People | 1 Comment »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
The Toy Book Toy Report 4/13/2010
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Read The Toy Book’s Toy Report for this week! (4/13/10)
Tags: 3rd & Bird!, Bain, BBC, Brian Goldner, Cadaco, Euromonitor International, Hasbro, HB 5130, IPO, Kids Wish Network, KKR, Munchkin, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Poof Slinky, Senario, TCKL, TIA, Toy Russia, Toys R Us, World of Toys
Posted in Financial, Licenses, New Products, News, Newsletters, People | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
LIMA Announces Keynote Panelists
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Executives from Disney, LF USA, Hasbro, and more have been picked for the keynote panel at Licensing International Expo 2010, sponsored by LIMA. The panel discussion, “The Future of Entertainment Licensing,” will kick off the Expo, held June 8-10 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Marty Brochstein, LIMA’s SVP of industry relations and information, will moderate the panel. Panelists will include Rick Darling, president of LF USA and executive director of Li & Fung Limited; Karen Dodge, SVP and chief merchandising officer of Toys “R” Us, Inc.; John Frascotti, global chief marketing officer at Hasbro, Inc.; Neil Friedman, president of Mattel Brands; and Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products.
Tags: Licensing International Expo, LIMA
Posted in News, People | 1 Comment »
