LIMA announces that six new members have been elected to its Board of Directors. The newly chosen industry executives who will begin serving three-year terms on July 1 are: Richard Barry, EVP, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc.; David Buckley, President, Copyrights Asia Limited; Elise Contarsy, Vice President, Brand Licensing, Meredith Corporation; Linne Kimball, Vice President, WME/IMG Licensing; Ted Larkins, SVP/GM, CPLG (Copyright Promotions Licensing Group) North America; and Maria Del Carmen Rotter Alday, Managing Director/EVP, Televisa Consumer Products.

In addition, Ciaran Coyle, Global Vice President & Head, Global Brand Licensing, Electrolux Global Marketing, was elected Vice Chairman; and Christian Fortmann, Partner, European Trademark Attorney, 24IP Law Group, was named Board Designate to the Executive Committee, each for one-year terms. Rick Van Brimmer of The Ohio State University, continues as LIMA Board Chairman.

“We’re excited about our new slate of board members whose wide-ranging backgrounds and extensive experience across the global licensing industry bring a valuable 360-degree perspective to the organization,” said LIMA President Charles Riotto. “I look forward to working with this group of industry leaders, who will help facilitate LIMA’s growth across the worldwide licensing landscape.”

Adds Van Brimmer: “This is an extremely talented and diverse group of board members, who have agreed to lend their expertise to LIMA as we seek new opportunities to serve the needs of the global licensing community.”

Richard Barry, EVP, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc., is responsible for delivering a strategic approach to all merchandising decisions for the retailer’s business worldwide. A company veteran for nearly 30 years, Barry provides leadership as the Chair of the Global Commercial Committee, which takes a unified view in working with business partners to develop key merchandising and licensing partnerships, and in identifying product trends and innovation to advance its authority position. He also leads the “R”Us Brands team, which includes product development, brand management and the company’s China Sourcing Office.

David Buckley, President, Copyrights Asia Limited,has worked in the licensing industry for nearly three decades, beginning his career in the International Licensing Department of Sanrio Co., Ltd. in Tokyo. Buckley later joined United Media Licensing as International Licensing Director. In 1993, he established a U.S. branch of The Copyrights Group, based in the U.K., which he ran through 2007. As president of Copyrights Asia, Buckley and his team further developed the Japanese and Asian markets for the company’s European and U.S.-based properties while introducing Japanese properties to global markets.

Elise Contarsy, Vice President, Brand Licensing, Meredith Corporation,is a 31-year licensing veteran. Her initial foray into the industry was at the start-up of the first Calvin Klein Home licensee, owned and operated by Home Innovations, as the design interface.She then spent eight years at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. In her current role, Contarsy is building a multi-billion dollar media brand licensing program around Meredith’s portfolio of leading magazines and local TV and digital media.

Linne Kimball, Vice President, WME/IMG Licensing, joined WME/IMG in May of 2015. In this role, she is responsible for a number of brands, spanning both sports and lifestyle categories, as well as new client development. Prior to WME/IMG, Kimball ran the Licensing Division for Reebok International for ten years. At Reebok, she established a portfolio of 30 licensing partners in categories ranging from Fitness Equipment to Fitness Clubs to performance apparel and accessories.

Ted Larkins, SVP/GM, CPLG (Copyright Promotions Licensing Group) North America, has been actively involved in the licensing industry for more than 26 years. Prior to joining CPLG, Larkins was president of Blue Sky International, a Japan-based licensing company that represented MGM Studios, MIRAMAX, CBS, Jack Nicklaus, and others. He also was a consultant and advisor to LIMA Japan and helped establish the licensing business in that region.

Maria Del Carmen Rotter Alday, Managing Director/EVP, Televisa Consumer Products, has been with Televisa for nearly 20 years, having founded the Televisa Consumer Products Division, which now has agents in 25 countries. Televisa Consumer Products has become the most important licensing agent in Mexico, representing top properties from Cartoon Network, Entertainment One and Nickelodeon, and developing marketing strategies for HIT Entertainment, Mattel and Sesame Workshop.Prior to joining Televisa, Rotter was VP, Product Development, at BouncyNet, and General Manager, Efectos Especiales, S.A. de C.V.