Rubie’s Costume Company, Inc., has received the 2011 Monster High North America Rookie Licensee of the year award from Mattel.

As one of the most successful children’s licenses of last year, characters from the Monster High Costume Collection include Frankie Stein, Lagoona Blue, Cleo de Nile, Clawdeen Wolf, and Draculaura. Available in children’s, tween, and adult sizes, each character comes to life with unique designs, intricate detailing, and coordinating accessories. In addition to the colorful costumes, the line also includes wigs and make-up kits.

With the expansion of the 2012 Monster High Collection, Rubie’s continues to create costumes that reflect the characters’ unique personalities while paying homage to their cool monster heritage. As they say at Monster High, freaky just got fabulous.

Leveraged Marketing Corporation of America (LMCA) has named George Williams as the managing director of LMCA Asia. Williams will be responsible for developing new Asian clients from LMCA’s Shanghai office, managing the company’s relationship with PepsiCo in China and serving other LMCA clients.

Prior to joining LMCA, Williams was a founder and managing partner of Novasia, Ltd., a Shanghai-based consulting practice focused on the development of market entry strategies and brand licensing partnerships for the Chinese market. The firm has represented a host of leading western consumer brands in China, including Budweiser, Everlast, Hart Schaffner Marx, Nicole Miller, Perry Ellis, and others.

Williams also served as the chairman and CEO of Brand Management Holdings, Ltd. in Shanghai, spearheading the retail development of the Everlast brand in mainland China.

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) continues its webinar series on Wednesday, May 2, with “Making Strategic Sense of Social Media,” a discussion on social media strategies. The session will focus on utilizing LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other platforms to best effect for companies and brands.

Natalie Cupps, vice president of digital marketing and sales of LACED, will lead the webinar, discussing how to make all parts of digital marketing mesh into a reasonable and cost-effective plan of action. She also will provide valuable insight into the primary issues business leaders need to consider when developing an effective digital strategy for their properties and products.

The session will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. EST. It is free for for all members and $99 per site for non-members. To register or to learn more about LIMA, click here.

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association’s (LIMA) Licensing University will open its doors at Licensing International Expo with a slate of more than 35 events and seminars. The program is offered over a five-day period, including all three days of the trade show. Presented by industry-leading experts, the interactive Licensing University sessions are specifically designed to deliver to players from all areas of the business—from newcomers to seasoned veterans—valuable, actionable insight on a broad range of important, bottom line-boosting opportunities. The program takes place from Sunday, June 10, through Thursday, June 14, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

LIMA’s Licensing University begins Sunday, June 10, with the third annual State of Retail Presentation and Store Safari, a half-day program that includes a luncheon presentation and retail field trip with retail expert Carol Spieckerman, president of newmarketbuilders. The session, which takes participants to a handpicked trio of Las Vegas-area stores to experience notable U.S. retailing trends, jumpstarts a full schedule of programs and panels that covers major industry categories, including corporate branding, legal, art, celebrity, sports, and digital licensing.

With nearly three dozen information-packed presentations, a sampling of the upcoming Licensing University program includes:

Keynote Address by Kathy Ireland: “Brand Building Through Licensing—My Journey From the Beach to the Boardroom and Beyond”
Super-model-turned-business-mogul Kathy Ireland delivers the Licensing International Expo 2012 keynote address on Tuesday, June 12. Ireland will discuss the principles on which her billion-dollar company was built, business lessons learned along the way, thoughts on the current state of the licensing business, and where it is headed.

Licensing for Beginners: The Building Blocks of Licensing Success
This session explores the building blocks needed to ready brands for licensing, including finding the best partners and properties, negotiating smart agreements, producing seamless brand extensions, and capitalizing on retail opportunities. Adina Avery-Grossman of Brandgenuity moderates the panel, which includes Teri Niadna, director, international consumer products, National Football League; Derrick Baca, VP of licensing and business development at Hybrid Apparel; Liz Kalodner, EVP and general manager at CBS Consumer Products; and Lloyd Mintz, president/founder of Nine Oaks Group.

Taking a Brand from Digital to Retail
From Angry Birds and Moshi Monsters to Talking Friends and Stardoll, popular entertainment properties don’t just come from movies, TV, and books anymore.  This session offers insight into the challenges involved in taking a brand from the digital domain to retail. Moderated by LIMA’s Marty Brochstein, the panel explores how to successfully translate properties from the computer and smartphone screen into physical product at retail. Panelists include Nicholas Bloom of The Beanstalk Group, global licensing agent for Talking Friends; Darran Garnham, chief business development officer/chief licensing officer for Mind Candy (Moshi Monsters); Mattias Miksche, co-founder and CEO of Stardoll Media; and Marc Mostman of Most Management LLC, U.S. licensing agent for Angry Birds.

Trends: Using Them to Successfully Compete in Art Licensing
This session discusses the importance of finding and tapping into trends when creating art and storyboards for products in categories such as home décor, paper, gift, stationery, and more. It also examines the difference between a trend and a fad, and when does a trend become an “evergreen.” Suzanne Cruise, president/owner of Suzanne Cruise Creative Services, leads the exploration with artists and licensing veterans Joan Beiriger and Gail Flores.

Licensing in Asia
This panel of experts and industry players will give participants a closer look at the many facets of the licensing business in Asia. The session will be moderated by Roger Berman, president of Japanese agency Zenworks, who will be joined by Yizan He, managing director, LMCA Brand Licensing & Consulting Co., Ltd. in China; Neal Rudge, partner of the Asian agency Pacific Licensing Studio; and Sid Shah, president of The Wild East Group, which specializes in licensing in India.

Getting Your Fair Share: How To Prevent Royalty Underpayments
Panelists discuss how companies can prevent underpayments and recoup payments owed. Moderator Joshua Kaufman of Venable LLP will be joined by Stuart Burns, partner in forensic accounting at HW Fisher & Co; Judy Ann Bird, director of Invotex Group; and CPA Anthony Curtis Elliott.

Identifying & Evaluating Opportunities of Licensed Properties for Your Brand or Company
This panel is designed to help participants learn how to identify strong properties, determine where they are in their lifecycle, and where will they be when it’s time to launch new products. Moderated by Alan I. Fine, president, KaleidOScope, panelists include Moss J. Kardener, OnStrategy Consultants; Andre Lake Mayer, vice president, licensing, Bandai America Inc.; Joshua Romm, vice president, IMG Licensing; and Peter Van Raalte, Partner Infinity Licensing, LLC.

To see the complete schedule of Licensing University sessions taking place leading up to and during Licensing Expo, and to register, click here.

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has announced the launch of  LIMANET, an opportunity network that gives licensing professionals real-time access to the people, companies, industries, and information they need to ensure the greatest return on investment for their business.

LIMA’s customizable new tool for the worldwide licensing community lets subscribers post information about products and services that they want to sell, buy, or find, and connects them directly with one another. The site requires users to register, but LIMANET is offered as a free service.

LIMANET will give subscribers the ability to receive customized alerts; create and manage their LIMANET account; post videos, shows, video games, and more to their homepage; and showcase intellectual properties, products, designs, artwork, and other materials on their homepage.

LIMANET will be available to everyone in the licensing community beginning July 1 with LIMA members having access to certain features. Subscribers and LIMA members’ affiliation will be identified with a LIMA logo on their LIMANET homepage.

Nickelodeon has restructured its consumer products business to closely align with its core business, with global, cross-platform property plans as the driving force behind the new organizational model. The new structure emphasizes toys and apparel, and retail marketing becomes integral to Nickelodeon’s overall marketing organization.

The strategic business operations, headed by Nickelodeon Group COO Sarah Kirshbaum Levy, will oversee the toys, interactive and consumer electronics, and soft goods, headed by Manuel Torres and Hal Snik. The Nickelodeon digital team—led by Steve Youngwood, executive vice president, digital, Nickelodeon Group—will manage Nick’s U.S. publishing and home entertainment businesses, headed by Paula Allen and Sherice Torres.

Retail marketing, which is overseen by Ron Johnson, will now report to Pam Kaufman, chief marketing officer, Nickelodeon Group. Packaged goods will report to advertising sales partnerships, led by Sharon Cohen, senior vice president of integrated marketing and ad sales, Nickelodeon Group. All international consumer products operations will continue to be led by Michael Connolly and report to Pierluigi Gazzolo, COO of Viacom International Media Networks. Manuel Torres and Paula Allen will have a dual report into Connolly for all international aspects of their businesses. Nickelodeon Creative Resources will continue to lead all creative components, managed by Russell Hicks, executive vice president and executive creative director, Nickelodeon Group.

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) President Bob Chapek today announced Josh Silverman as executive vice president of global licensing for Disney and Marvel. Silverman is currently senior vice president of global strategy, business development and brand management for Marvel Entertainment.

In his new role, Silverman will ensure business maximization through collaboration with internal partners, licensees, and the newly combined retail organization throughout The Walt Disney Company. Internationally, he will work closely with regional licensing teams to leverage DCP’s scale and best practices.

Silverman began his career at Marvel Entertainment in 2001 as a corporate attorney in the business and legal affairs group and by 2006 was vice president, business affairs, responsible for structuring strategic partnerships and licenses. In 2008, Silverman was promoted to senior vice president, global business development and licensing operations, and again in 2010 to his most recent role, where he has been responsible for leading integration into Disney; working across Marvel divisions on global strategic and tactical matters; and corporate brand management. Currently based in New York City, Silverman will soon relocate to Southern California and will be based in DCP’s Glendale headquarters.

Robert Eckert has informed Mattel’s board of directors of his decision to retire as CEO, after 11 years with the company, effective December 31. The board has named Bryan Stockton (pictured), who has held the position of COO for the past year, to succeed Eckert as CEO, effective January 1, 2012. Eckert has agreed to continue in his role as chairman of the board, and the board has elected Stockton as a member of the board, effective January 1.

For the past year, Stockton has served as COO, with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the company, including its business units: Mattel Brands, Fisher-Price, American Girl, and the North American and International divisions. Stockton has also been responsible for the operations and corporate responsibility functions. Stockton joined Mattel in November 2000 as executive vice president of business planning and development, and was responsible for identifying and developing strategic opportunities for the company, as well as managing all merger and acquisition activity. He gained responsibility for the International division in 2003, where he began driving Mattel’s business outside the U.S., including sales and marketing for Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price. He was promoted to president of International in 2007.

Firefly Brand Management is a full-service global brand management and licensing agency specializing in entertainment, interactive, technology, art and lifestyle properties, including:

• Anne Geddes, an artist whose photography has been published in 83 countries with over 18 million copies sold worldwide. The brand and various licensing programs have a strong following all over the world, and Firefly is seeking new product lines for the home, infants, maternity, and young girls.

• Hell’s Kitchen, the cooking competition show on Fox. The brand’s new lines are in housewares, food, beverage, apparel and other categories.

• Mr. Bubble, which for 50 years has been the best selling bubble bath in the U.S.

• Spam, which has graced American dinner tables for nearly 75 years, is an iconic American brand.

• Yummy You by Twinkie Chan, a line of silly, food themed scarves and accessories.

• Emily Green, whose imagination brings creative, fun designs to an array of products including children’s place mats, bowls, tumblers and other unique gifts.

Please contact Eve LeMaster for licensing news and opportunities.

New York City is slated to become the next stop on the global licensing circuit as the Toy Industry Association (TIA) launches its new Brand & Entertainment Showcase in February. Co-located with the 109^th American International Toy Fair, February 12-15, the showcase offers an impactful and convenient content connection for entertainment licensors and brand owners alike. The event provides opportunities for exclusive access to top-tier media, marketing agencies, and an audience of 30,000+ tradeshow guests from more than 90 countries. Adventure Publishing Group is the exclusive media partner of the Brand & Entertainment Showcase.

The new Brand & Entertainment Showcase satisfies increased demands from the licensing community to collaborate in a formalized setting at the show. Content providers will be able to simply show up and show off in small, private meeting spaces or large, public theaters. Turnkey presentation solutions and an audience of marketers ensure that all participants’ needs will be met.

As the largest and most important gathering for youth entertainment in the Western Hemisphere, Toy Fair last year welcomed an unprecedented surge in entertainment executives (+31 percent) and licensors (+8 percent). In 2010, licensed toys represented 25 percent of total industry sales.  In addition, the co-located Brand & Entertainment Showcase gives participants access to the important ancillary advertising, marketing, and promotion-oriented industries that are concentrated in and around the media epicenter of the world.

Adventure Publishing’s signature publications—The Licensing Book and The Toy Book—and its online communities will be a primary conduit of information and updates about the Showcase to the global community, and the key vehicles for brand advertisers during the event itself.

For more information about participating in TIA’s Brand and Entertainment Showcase, contact Jennifer Coleman, sales executive and producer (973.760.8181, jennifer@jcinc.biz); for information about advertising opportunities, please contact Jonathan Samet at Adventure Publishing (212.575.4510, jsamet@adventurepub.com).