Executive Moves

Viacom COO Sarah Levy adds direct oversight of Nickelodeon and BET to her prior portfolio of MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Spike, CMT, TV Land, Logo and Viacom International Media Networks

… Changes at GameStop:  CEO Paul Raines resigns due to health issues and is replaced by Michael Mauler, formerly Executive VP of the International Division; COO Tony Bartel and Michael Hogan, EVP of Strategic Business and Brand Development, leave the company… Keegan Helmbrecht, formerly IP Operations Content Supervisor at Redbubble, shifts to Partner Relationship Mgr.

Contacts:

GameStop, Michael Mauler, CEO, 817-424-2000

Redbubble, Eric Morse, SVP Content Partnerships and Global Licensing, 415-644-5181, eric.morse@redbubble.com

Sugarfina Expanding Spirits Licenses

Candy supplier/retailer Sugarfina sold through initial shipments of Tito Vodka-licensed candy in January and expects replenish supplies within two weeks, says Sugarfina’s David Cruz. The Tito’s Vodka products are being sold separately as gummy bears, chocolate cordials and martini olives and as a bento box that adds a two-ounce copper mug. Sugarfina, which also has an agreement with Casamigos for tequila, is seeking a similar deal for gin to expand its line of liquor-infused candy, says Cruz. Sugarfina operates about 50 stores and also sells through Nordstrom.

Contact:

Sugarfina, David Cruz, Senior Sales Mgr., 855-784-2734 x104, david.cruz@sugarfina.com

Agencies

Seltzer Licensing Group is representing Campbell’s Soup Co. as the company seeks to expand its brand’s reach in housewares, apparel and other products, says Seltzer’s Ricky Yoselevitz.  Campbell’s previously was represented by Big Tent Entertainment. Part of the plan also is to broaden the brand from its reliance on Andy Warhol’s artwork, says Yoselevitz “The question is can the general merchandise program stand on its own without having to use the Andy Warhol program as frequently and that is what we are going to explore,” Yoselevitz said. … Exemplar Associates is representing Cornell University, its third Ivy League school, joining University of Pennsylvania and Columbia … Nottingham Forest is now handling licensing for Power Rangers in Spain and Portugal.

Contacts:

Exemplar Associates, Rick Merriam, Founder, 616-212-9593, rick@exemplarassociates.com

Nottingham Forest, Laura Garcia Ortega, Commercial Dir., +34 914 467 3000, info@nottinghamforest.es

Saban Brands, Tim Juckes, VP Consumer Products and Retail EMEA, +44 20 7432 4542, tjuckes@sabanbrands.com

Seltzer Licensing Group, Ricky Yoselevitz, VP Strategy and Business Development, 212-244-5548, ricky@seltzerlicensing.com

Mattel Expands Distribution of WWE Fashion Dolls

Mattel expanded distribution of about a dozen World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) fashion dolls featuring female wrestlers to Target and Walmart.com, ending the U.S. exclusive Toys R Us had last fall, says WWE’s Casey Collins. Mattel, which launched the line last year featuring eight WWE wrestlers, also is adding Smyths Toys in the U.K. as it moves to expand to international markets.

Contact:

World Wrestling Entertainment, Casey Collins, EVP Consumer Products, 203-352-8600, casey.collins@wwecorp.com

Picnic Time Doubling Line of Disney Products, Expanding Distribution

Picnic Time is readying a new assortment of Disney-licensed products, doubling the line to more than 300 SKUs as it expands distribution to GameStop and its ThinkGeek stores, says the company’s Scott McCormack. It launched the line – its first entertainment-based products– through Box Lunch and Hot Topic last fall with picnic baskets and backpacks, blankets, cheese cutting board and seats and other products. Picnic Time also will add a Lilo and Stitch collection (beach umbrella, seat and cooler) as an exclusive at Box Lunch this spring, says McCormack.

Contact:

Picnic Time, Scott McCormack, Licensing Dir., (805-222-2526, scott@picnictime.com

Glu Mobile Returning to Entertainment-Based Mobile Games with Disney

Glu Mobile is returning to entertainment IP-based mobile games, having signed agreement to develop titles based on Disney and Pixar characters. The games are in  early development and a release date hasn’t been, says a spokeswoman. The games, the first to be developed under former Electronic Arts executive Michael Olsen, mark a turn for Glu Mobile, which for several years focused on celebrity-licensed games. The publisher has a long history with film-based games, having first signed an agreement with Warner Bros. in 2007 and followed it up games based on MGM’s Clash of the Titans (2010) and Paramount Pictures’ Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015).

Contact:

Glu Mobile, Michael Olsen, SVP Studios,415 800 6100