LIMA UK has appointed Ryan Beaird as its new Membership Services Manager for the UK. Ryan follows in the footsteps of Saphia Maxamed, who has departed LIMA for a new role at Rights Management International.

Ryan studied Business, Finance and Economics at the South East Essex College of Arts and Technology from 1995-1999. After leaving education he began his career as a junior trader in the city of London in 2000. For the next eight years he continued to work for numerous financial institutions such as Schroders Investment Management, Barings Asset Management, Morgan Stanley and State Street Bank & Trust, primarily in roles such as Pension Fund Portfolio Accountant, Institutional Fund Accountant and Client Relationship Management.

After being made redundant in 2008, Ryan decided he wanted to pursue his passion for cartooning and was granted a business start-up loan by the Princes Trust to assist him in setting up his greeting card company, and to sell his cartoons direct to retailers. For the next five years in a tough market Ryan developed his cartoon series ‘Jack & Runty’ and was signed by PIB Features (Denmark) and D.P.A. – Global Media Services in 2012 to distribute his newspaper strips which are published in newspapers throughout the world.

Ryan has been networking and gaining experience throughout the licensing, animation and newspaper industry for many years and has presented his cartoon brand ‘Jack and Runty’ at numerous trade fairs such as Licensing Expo and BLE. He brings to LIMA a vast self-taught accumulated knowledge from different sectors of children’s entertainment.

Ryan’s other skills include web design, social media expertise and animation. He is also studying towards his private pilot’s license.

Ryan will be the first point of call for LIMA’s UK members. He will offer day-to-day support for members on specific business issues as well as acting as a focal point for industry news and information. Amongst other things, Ryan will also be taking over the management of LIMA UK’s popular educational events such as Spring Fling, which will take place on 16 May this year, as well as LIMA’s new-look stand and events at BLE in October.

Ryan comments: “We have a number of priorities this year, particularly in terms of building the membership among certain industry sectors and continuing to raise awareness of licensing as a valuable business tool. We are keen to develop a closer relationship with members, particularly through social media and networking events, so that we can engage more and develop our services in response to their needs.”

Kelvyn Gardner, Managing Director of LIMA UK, comments, “We are pleased to welcome Ryan, who brings considerable skills to the association, not least in terms of financial management and his experience of children’s animation, plus his knowledge of the licensing industry and printed media. This will be extremely valuable as we continue to expand and spread the word about licensing.”

Ryan can be contacted at the LIMA UK office on +44 1908 802 863 or by email on rbeaird@licensing.org