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.

Soccer United Marketing (SUM) has named Maribeth Towers as its new senior vice president of consumer products.

Towers brings more than 20 years of experience in consumer products from her years at Warner Brothers Studio, Fox Kids, and May Company. She’ll manage all consumer products and licensing activity for the organization in the U.S. and Canada, including strategic planning for increasing licensing revenues for Major League Soccer, all 19 MLS clubs, and all properties represented by SUM.

In addition to Major League Soccer, Towers will be responsible for all consumer products and licensing for some of the premier soccer properties in the U.S., including U.S. Soccer and all its national teams, the Mexican National Team, famed Mexican club team Chivas de Guadalajara, and multiple CONCACAF properties.

Mary Engelbreit Studios (MES) of St. Louis, Missouri, has entered into an agreement with HAP Consulting, appointing HAP as its licensing agent.

Heidi Packer, who owns and runs HAP Consulting, has been in the licensing and retail industries for more than 20 years and has a strong background in branding, marketing, and licensing. HAP Consulting will focus on casting Mary Engelbreit as a lifestyle brand. HAP will be seeking new relationships with MES and exposing its brands and artwork to a new generation of home décor and lifestyle licensees.

MES announced that John Mavrakis has joined the company as president and COO. A 20-year veteran of the greeting card and gift industries, Mavrakis will take the lead in the company’s new brand strategy, and will be responsible for identifying and developing opportunities within the organization.

Mavrakis’ retail operations experience as a senior leader at The Discovery Channel, The Body Shop, Banana Republic, The Gap, and Watch World, Intl., will further enhance his abilities to continue building the Mary Engelbreit brands and collections.

Stephanie Barken will continue her leadership role on the creative side of the business with the new title of creative director. The studio has hired Angela Clark and Pam Dobek as designers, reporting to Barken. Tabitha Harwell, a recent hire of the studio, has assumed the role of administration director, where she will handle all company administration duties. Alexa Anderson has assumed the role of art/product coordinator, managing the approval process and art communication between MES and its licensees.

MES also announced a new brand structure and strategy for the company. The evolution of the company involves launching two new brands created to bring relevance and sophistication to today’s bustling lifestyle while maintaining the whimsical appeal and distinct aesthetic Mary is famous for.

The Mary Engelbreit brand ushers in refined and pattern-based designs that are reflective of her eclectic traditional style. The Mary & Co. brand will focus on sales in the mass market and social expression channels.

Branded entertainment company Big Tent Entertainment appointed Kirsten Fallon as vice president of global business development. In her new role with the company, Fallon will be responsible for development of pop culture icon Domo and PixFusion in Latin America, Europe, Russia, Turkey, Middle East, and North Africa. Additionally, Fallon will be responsible for select global retailers for all Big Tent Entertainment brands.

Fallon brings to Big Tent Entertainment more than 20 years of licensing experience in brand management, sales, product, and retail development. Most recently, Fallon served as Ludorum’s U.S. vice president of retail marketing and development. Prior to Ludorum, Fallon worked for Peanuts Worldwide, formerly United Media, where she led retail strategy and development for Peanuts, Fancy Nancy, Beatrix Potter, and Mary Engelbreit. Fallon also represented adult brands, including Food Network, Iron Chef America, History Channel’s Ice Road Truckers, Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, Dilbert, and Hallmark’s hoops&yoyo, during her tenure at United Media.

Barbara Zobian, president of Candlelighters NYC, an organization helping children fight cancer, went to Dylan’s Candy Bar in NYC on February 15 for the world introduction of Hip Hop’s first official candy product, Micheck da Candy.  The candy-filled toy microphone plays positive, inspirational messages from Chuck D, and is the creation of CandyRific and Sensei Aaron, Chuck D’s first MC partner and former bodyguard. Barbara is embraced by Sensei Aaron (left) and Chuck D (right).

Source: NickMom press release

Earlier this month, Nickelodeon announced that General Mills, Target, and Reckitt Benckiser have signed on as charter sponsors for NickMom, Nickelodeon’s new multiplatform content destination that targets moms. The just-announced deals will include brand integration, content development, and sponsorships across the new NickMom TV block, launching this fall on Nick Jr. The deal also includes NickMom.com, which launched last year.

The NickMom nightly television block will feature a mix of original long- and short-form humor-based programming, including talk shows, stand-up and sketch comedy, hidden camera television shows, and more. NickMom.com, a blog that debuted last November, currently features editorial franchises, photos, and video. Throughout this year, Nickelodeon expects the site to grow, complete with more editorial, photos, videos, gaming, and a community, becoming a fully integrated website timed to the TV launch.

Nickelodeon has picked up 26 episodes of the stand-up comedy series NickMom Night Out for the television block. The series features comedians such as Judy Gold, Corey Kahaney, B Phlat, and Deena Blizzard. Also announced were more than 50 projects in development. The programs span TV and digital, and include work from stand-up comedian and actress Caroline Rhea, actor/author Annabelle Gurwitch, and Madeleine Smithberg of Mad Cow Productions.

Click here for NickMom’s development slate.

Nickelodeon has also announced that Bronwen O’Keefe has been named senior vice president of NickMom. In this newly created position, O’Keefe will spearhead the creation and development of all television and online content for NickMom.

O’Keefe will be responsible for managing the content creation, editorial, and programming development, in addition to overseeing the planning and execution of all linear and digital content for NickMom. She will also work with senior management to set and champion the creative strategy for NickMom.

A 15-year Nickelodeon veteran, O’Keefe was most recently senior vice president of event and original programming, where she was responsible for overseeing the production of network television events, specials, and shows such as Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, TeenNick HALO Awards, Worldwide Day of Play, Speed Racer, Kappa Mikey, The Secret World of Alex Mack, and Degrassi, among others.

American International Toy Fair, held in New York City at the Javits Center every February, is always a blast, and this year’s event did not disappoint. Below is only a snapshot of the interesting people, places, and things the editors of Adventure Publishing Group saw at the fair. So click away, and see you next year!

Tons of pictures after the jump!

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