George Leon | Source: Licensing International

Licensing International has unveiled George Leon as the host of the 2022 Licensing International Excellence Awards, which recognizes outstanding achievements and innovation in the licensing industry around the world. With more than 25 years of experience, Leon is an industry veteran and an expert in global promotions and franchise development.

Leon will host as the master of ceremonies for this year’s Excellence Awards at 5:30 p.m. PT on May 23 at The Light Vegas Nightclub in Las Vegas. Leon personally knows many of the nominees and has won multiple Licensing International Excellence Awards himself. 

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“I’m beyond excited to honor this year’s incredible nominees and celebrate the winners as the host of the Licensing International Excellence Awards,” Leon says. “And, after two years of virtual meetings, I can’t wait to get dressed up and gather together with my colleagues across the licensing industry.”

In 2017, Leon founded California-based Cakewalk Entertainment. Before that, he worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment for 16 years, most recently serving as executive vice president of consumer marketing for global branded entertainment, licensing, and product placement. 

This year’s Excellence Awards features 165 finalists from 20 countries in 25 categories. Registration for the ceremony is now open. Licensing Expo will take place from May 24-26 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.


Register here for Licensing Expo to discover the thousands of IPs ready to license from more than 200 brands that span every product category imaginable. Registration is free, so do it today.

About the author

Khue Nguyen

Khue Nguyen

Khue (Ken) Nguyen is an Editorial Intern at the Toy Insider, the Toy Book and the Pop Insider, where he helps cover the latest news in toys and pop culture. He’s also a part-time editor for a local newspaper in Columbia, Missouri. As a self-proclaimed Asian foodie, Ken enjoys roaming the downtown area of Columbia looking for a steaming bowl of noodle soup or a sizzling plate of stir fry whenever he’s not working.

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