Genius Brands International, Inc. has appointed Denise Kovac to the position of marketing director. Kovac has more than 25 years of consumer products experience, including product development, brand development, and marketing in the $300 billion direct response market.

Kovac will launch the first direct response marketing campaign for Baby Genius DVD and CDs. The worldwide campaign will first launch in the U.S. this Q1 with broadcast commercials, accompanied by a new Baby Genius website. A new line of Baby Genius musical and early learning toys from Jakks Pacific’s Tollytots division will launch this fall.

Throughout her career, Kovac served in top-level executive positions, including COO of Your Baby Can, LLC; president of Thane Direct, USA; president of Bay Street Brands; and vice president of Sales at Fitness Quest/Warner Vision where she also managed sales for Atlantic Records, Electra Records, and Rhino Records divisions. She also ran her own consulting firm, Managed Full Service Marketing.

Ahead of Brand Licensing Europe next week, Mind Candy revealed a monster licensing program for global kids hit Moshi Monsters, with more than 40 UK licensees on board, another 60 signed internationally, and six recent hires bolstering the global licensing team. Mind Candy’s head of global licensing, Darran Garnham, has grown the team from two to nine people, and increased its partner lineup from nine to more than 100 since January.

Licensing Partners
UK: The company started this year with a toy launch from Vivid (master toy partner). Its premium partner lineup included Penguin (publishing), Topps (trading cards), Winning Moves (Top Trumps), and SkyJack (magazine). Mind Candy has since announced deals with Ty (beanie babies), Activision (Nintendo DS), and Mega (construction blocks). With more than 40 licensees now signed up for the UK, new partners hitting shelves this side of Christmas include E-max (claybuddies), Lazerbuilt (DS accessories), Prima Games (game guide for the DS), Smith and Brooks (daywear), Cooneen and Misirli (nightwear and underwear), Character World and Worlds Apart (bedroom textiles), Gemma International (greeting cards, party wear), Paper Project (stickers), Amscan (foil balloons), Lightbody’s (cakes), Bon Bon Buddies (confectionery – advent calendars), Spearmark and Milkshake Creations (lunchware and tableware), Trademark (bags), and H Grossman (wheeled).

U.S.: The U.S. program now has more than 50 premium partners on board across softlines, toys and games, hardlines, publishing, novelty, activity, back-to-school, and celebration. Category announcements will follow in the coming weeks.

Australia: Mind Candy’s local licensing agent Fusion has brought in 11 partners across categories including a QSR, softlines, and apparel. Deal announcements will follow.

European plans are currently in development with announcements imminent.

Team Expansion

UK Team
Clare Wiggins joins from Chapman Entertainment as head of Moshi Live and is set to establish and develop the live experiences for Moshi users. Mind Candy is looking at all formats from a live music tour to immersive branded attractions in theme parks.

Ex-Disney exec Sarah Hodges joins as retail partnership manager, working with licensees and retailers to head up the strategy for Moshi at retail.

Long-standing Mind Candy producer Jack McCall has made an internal move to head of product development, working closely with all partners to ensure the integrity and fun of the brand is carried through within every product.

Matt Shone joins from Firebox as contracts & royalty manager, and Dave Tovey, Mind Candy’s UK licensing manager, remains central to the team, having joined at the start of this year.

U.S. Team
Caitlin Gutekunst joins as licensing manager, Americas, reporting to Eric Karp, head of licensing, Americas within Mind Candy’s New York office. Brad Schultz was recently announced as head of Moshi TV, working out of Los Angeles on a new VOD platform that’s currently in development.

Mind Candy is currently looking into plans for international expansion with further announcements anticipated early next year.

Michael Acton Smith, CEO and founder of Moshi Monsters will talk about the company’s growth and future plans during his keynote speech at Brand Licensing Europe, October 18, 1 p.m., at the Licensing Academy, which is open to all BLE attendees.

Twentieth Century Fox Television has named entertainment marketing executive Jeffrey Godsick to the position of president, Fox Consumer Products. Godsick will oversee all of Fox’s consumer products activities and staff, reporting to Twentieth Century Fox Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden, and starts immediately. Robert Marick, EVP of Consumer Products, remains on board, reporting to Godsick.

Godsick will oversee the worldwide licensing of Fox’s portfolio of film and television properties across platforms including interactive gaming, themed entertainment, television promotions, literary publishing, and a wide array of consumer product categories. Headquartered in the operating unit’s West Coast office, Godsick will manage both its Los Angeles and London-based operations.

Previously, Godsick held several senior marketing positions at Twentieth Century Fox’s feature film division, most recently as senior executive vice president. He began his tenure at Fox in 1995, as SVP, publicity, and was upped to EVP of marketing a few years later. He left the studio in 2006 to become president of Fox-Walden, where he oversaw all aspects of the campaigns for the company’s slate of feature films. Godsick returned to Fox in 2008 as EVP, before his promotion earlier this year to senior executive vice president. Throughout the years, Godsick has played key roles in the studio’s campaigns for Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: First Class, Rio, Avatar, the Ice Age films, the Star Wars films, the original X-Men film trilogy, Moulin Rouge, Independence Day, and many others.  Before joining Fox, Godsick was a senior executive at Rogers and Cowan, where he oversaw all domestic and international film operations as well as the firm’s London office.

Godsick began his career at Columbia Pictures as an assistant field manager, working on the films The Karate Kid and Ghostbusters, among many others. A graduate of Tulane University, Godsick sits on the board of trustees of Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and is a member of the advisory committee of the Los Angeles Film Festival.

NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group has brought Kerry O’Donnell on board as the director of global licensing. She will focus on sales and product development for NBC and USA Network properties.

O’Donnell previously served as director of merchandising and licensing for ABC Entertainment Group, where she managed consumer products and licensing for properties including Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, Dancing with the Stars, and Wipeout. O’Donnell led financial analysis, deal recommendations, and contract negotiations for license opportunities, including e-commerce, video games, books, action figures, trading cards, toys, greeting cards, and apparel, according to NBCUniversal’s announcement.

Purina Pet Gear Products Launch at Walmart

Under a license with Nestle Purina PetCare Company to use the Purina brand, the oneCARE Company’s line of Purina Pet Gear products is now available in Walmart stores throughout the United States. The new line, which includes training pads and household cleaners, can be seen in its entirety at its recently launched Facebook page.

Harry Potter Film Boosts Orders of Kymera Magic Wand

Sales for the Kymera Magic Wand, by the Dragon’s Den, have increased 350 percent since the July 15 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, according to the UK’s ToyNews. Developed in the UK, the Kymera Magic Wand is a motion-sensitive, button-less universal remote control for iPods and TVs, using high-tech gesture recognition and a standard infrared signal.

M!KE Licensing Signs Licensee for Yak Pak Bedding

M!KE Licensing appointed Cody Direct as the exclusive licensee for Yak Pak bedding. The Yak Pak domestics lifestyle collection will consist of decorative bedding, blankets, throws, indoor slumber bags, sheeting in all thread counts and fabric constructions, soft storage, novelty pillows/cushions, and accent rugs, according to the release.

M!KE Licensing is seeking licensees for Yak Pak in categories including party paper goods, eyewear, pajamas/underwear, fleece, hosiery, and sporting goods.

—Melissa Tinklepaugh

Janet Hsu, President of SANRIO, Inc., has announced the expansion of the company’s senior management team with three strategic executive appointments.

As Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing, Jill Koch is responsible for maintaining the integrity and identity of the SANRIO brand and its cast of characters including Hello Kitty. Koch will work closely with the design team on product development and brand extension. Ms Koch will continue to oversee the expansion of SANRIO’s unique co-brand initiatives and collaboration programs, as well as the management of public relations and marketing to build and drive consistent brand messaging. With SANRIO since 2002, Koch formerly held the title of senior director of brand management & marketing.

Cindy Elfenbein has been named executive director of retail business development.  In this newly created position, Elfenbein will develop new business opportunities with key retailers and create unique partnerships and promotions between SANRIO licensees and retailers. Elfenbein brings with her more than 20 years of experience in the retail, licensing, and entertainment industries. Prior to joining SANRIO, Elfenbein held senior management positions at Sony Pictures Entertainment, DIC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

Linh Forse has been promoted to senior licensing manager, responsible for the management of the company’s licensing partners in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Her focus will be on expanding distribution in the Canadian market and developing licensing programs for emerging characters. Forse has been with SANRIO since 2008 and was previously licensing manager. Prior to joining SANRIO, Forse held key licensing positions at Jakks Pacific and Brand Sense Partners.

Saban Brands, LLC has added four senior executives to its management team.

Nina Leong will serve as senior vice president, licensing and will be responsible for overseeing all current licensed products and programs, as well as developing partnerships with new licensees on behalf of the company’s properties.

David Shuman has joined as vice president of finance, overseeing all finance and accounting functions related to Saban Brands across all intellectual property investments, including oversight of the television and movie production entities.

Rami Yanni has been named senior vice president of business and legal affairs and will be responsible for all contractual, intellectual property and compliance matters for Saban Brands.

Kirk Bloomgarden has been appointed senior vice president of international licensing and will oversee the expansion of overseas business.

Media investor Haim Saban is moving into brand management and licensing, The New York Times and others are reporting. The Saban Capital Group will devote $500 million to Saban Brands, a new company dedicated to acquiring entertainment and consumer brands and exploiting them through retail, television, and film channels.

Elie Dekel, former licensing and merchandising executive at 20th Century Fox, will lead the new effort.

“As media and consumer options become increasingly fragmented and proliferated, our underlying thesis is that properties that resonate with consumers today will only become more meaningful over time,” says Saban.

Haim Saban Goes Into Brand Management [NY Times]

Big Tent Entertainment has announced the appointment of Lisa K. Weiner as director of brand development.  Lisa brings more than 20 years of experience in licensing, brand management, sales, and marketing to Big Tent Entertainment.  In her new role, Weiner will look to help maximize all Big Tent Entertainment’s brands in licensee sales and at retail, including Domo, Discovery Kids, TOKYOPOP, and the Telemundo brand.

JAKKS Pacific executive Jeremy Padawer  is taking on a new role as executive vice president of marketing for JAKKS brands. Padawer was formerly senior vice president of Marketing for Boys Entertainment brands. In his new role, Padawer is  responsible for product development, marketing, new business, intellectual property, and entertainment content development for JAKKS, including girls, dolls, activities, preschool, vehicles, seasonal, construction, boys entertainment, electronics, and pets. Padawer’s new role is not inclusive of JAKKS’ divisions, Creative Designs International (CDI), Tollytots, KidsOnly!, and Disguise. Padawer joined JAKKS in 2003 and has successfully grown the entertainment brand marketing division worldwide. Padawer was responsible for the business management and product development of all action figure and collectible brands, including Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pokémon, Club Penguin, and new initiatives with Lucas, Marvel, and Warner Bros.