Tag Archives: People

Asgard Media appoints Robyn Cowling as its Head of Strategic Partnerships

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Asgard Media, the licensing consultancy business launched by Kelvyn Gardner, has tapped Robyn Cowling has its new head of strategic partnerships as the company looks towards ‘a bright future’, following Kelvyn’s passing earlier this year.

Formerly the licensing director at Underground Toys (acquired by Funko), Cowling brings with her over ten years of experience in the licensing space, as well as a wealth of knowledge in the pop culture and trends space. With a proven track record, she is a popular member of the licensing industry who is passionate about products.

Cowling was selected for the role at Asgard Media for the ‘values she embodies’ as well as her commitment to growing the business in collaboration with clients and licensors in a ‘profitable and sustainable way’ by encouraging them to connect, build and nurture relationships.

“In particular, I’m looking forward to combining my commercial knowledge and product development expertise to deliver new, exciting licensed ranges and products to the FMCG and gift sectors,” said Cowling. “Asgard represents clients in a broad range of sectors including craft gin and cakes – what’s not to love?!

“I’m keen to prove worthy of the support which Kelvyn’s family have shown me by guiding our existing clients into exploring different genres and adding to our strong portfolio with new strategic partners.”

Kelvyn Gardner created Asgard Media as a new consultancy business in 1998 after his success with Merlin Publishing, which was founded by Kelvyn and three colleagues in 1989. During the ’90s, Merlin Publishing became the fastest-growing private company in the United Kingdom, winning the coveted Price Waterhouse Top 100 in 1995. Merlin’s growth was rooted in Kelvyn’s work getting the essential licenses that brought that success. For the next 20 years, Kelvyn marketed hundreds of licensed products worldwide.

Over that time, Kelvyn also filled the role of managing director of Licensing International UK, helping the industry for more than ten years ending in 2020.

Michelle Gardner, director at Asgard Media, said: “Kelvyn’s sudden passing on the 26th of January this year hit us hard. Of course this meant a decision as to whether we continued in licensing. However a desire to look after our lovely clients led us to carry on, although without Kelvyn at the helm this was a daunting prospect.

“Advice from good friends within the industry led us to David Berry of Interim Licensing Management. David has done a fantastic job guiding us through the licensing maze, getting Asgard Media back on track at what has been a challenging time. We could not have asked for a better helping hand in the interim whilst we looked to engage someone permanently. Now seven months on, we are happy to announce Robyn Cowling’s appointment as Head of Strategic Partnerships for Asgard Media.”

Kelvyn’s children, Eliot and Regan, added: “Our dad created Asgard Media especially to provide a range of independent consultancy services and strategic advice to the licensing business sector. We grew up around licensing, and knowing that Asgard will continue to be a part of the vibrant industry he loved so much means the world to us. Having Robyn on board really makes us ready for an electric future.”

Alongside this exciting appointment, as part of their growth strategy, Asgard will be expanding its portfolio. You can now ‘summon the power of Asgard’ by contacting Robyn at:

Robyn Cowling: 07958 029 326

rc@asgardmedia.com

Obituary | Those Licensing People founder and MD, Russell Dever, passes away

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The vivacious and engaging founder of licensing agency, Those Licensing People, Russell Dever (aged 62), passed away on 11th August having sadly taken his own life after a long battle with depression. 

Renowned for his passion in children’s entertainment and content, his affection for the genre led him to found the Leeds-based licensing agency in 2013.  

Over the last decade his client portfolio has represented some of the world’s most-loved classic children’s brands, which he rejuvenated with his boundless energy and enthusiasm for the industry he embraced. Clients he has represented include Sooty, The Magic Roundabout, Roobard & Custard, and The Little Prince. Russell’s personality shined at industry trade shows and events where he was a regular exhibitor and sponsor, with an unwavering support for the licensing community and those who became his friends, not just clients or contacts.

Alongside his licensing business Russell was also respected in the children’s broadcast industry, having created and produced a number of children’s TV series, including the hit Little Monsters. It was his success in children’s entertainment which led the creative entrepreneur to expand his career into the licensing industry, for which he became so passionate.  At the time of his passing, Russell was also working on several production projects to be showcased at upcoming trade shows, where he relished networking with industry executives.  

In 2017 his youngest daughter, Leah Dever, joined the business and will continue her dad’s work with their existing clients.  She says: “There are just no words to explain this loss to our family; we are all incredibly heartbroken. We kindly ask for flowers not to be sent, however notes, cards and words of condolence are very welcome. Russell is survived by his much-loved wife Janine and daughters, Abigail and Leah. 

A tribute website to Russell has been set up where people can access the funeral information for 8th September, and donate to the mental health charity, Mind. www.russelldever.muchloved.com

Silvergate Media appoints its first chief diversity officer in new commitment to ‘amplify diverse voices’

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Silvergate Media has appointed its first chief diversity officer in the form of Shelli Rottman who takes on a new dual role with the firm as its EVP of Business and Legal Affairs.

In her position as both chief diversity officer and EVP of business and legal affairs, Rottman will oversee Silvergate’s growing diversity and inclusion programme currently guiding the company’s pledge to create a more equitable and welcoming working environment while, at the same time, amplifying fresh, diverse voices through mentorship and guidance.

Rottman joined Silvergate Media in 2011, and over the past decade has played a major part in heading up the company’s Business and Legal Affairs team, supporting global licensing, content distribution, business development, and production.

Prior to joining Silvergate Media, Rottman served as in-house counsel in the entertainment, fashion and publishing industries, including at Chorion, Liz Claiborne (now Kate Spade) and Condé Nast.

Silvergate recently made a commitment to magnify diverse voices throughout its creative slate with the investment in a new production ¡Vamos!, based upon the award-winning Spanish and English language work of Mexican-American author Raúl (González). Similar projects, with an emphasis on exploring different cultures and traditions, are also under consideration.

“I am thrilled to be able to make a meaningful impact in an area that is important to me,” said Rottman. “The overwhelming support for embracing new and emerging talent from different communities is clearly evident in the company’s philosophy and its substantial investment in new and exciting productions. 

“This is an amazing opportunity to help promote and guide the next generation of diverse storytellers and their work.”

Waheed Alli, chief executive at Silvergate Media, added: “With her unique outlook and industry expertise, Shelli is the perfect choice to lead our efforts in shaping a more diverse and inclusive company culture and to align those values with our overall business strategy.”

Spin Master considering global roll-out of Future of Play Scholarship ‘based on interest’

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Spin Master will be considering the expansion of its new Future of Play Scholarship Programme across its 28 global offices, based on the level of interest expressed within the individual markets.

Last week, the global entertainment powerhouse and toy maker detailed the launch of a programme to support the education and career advancement of individuals from under-represented communities across the toys, entertainment, and digital games sectors.

Through its Future of Play Scholarship, the firm has committed to investing up to $100,000 a year in financial aid, as well as mentorship and on the job experience for individuals from under-represented communities, including BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+, and indigent students seeking post-secondary education with toy design, creative production, digital gaming, and app development.

The launch of the programme follows findings across all three sectors – toys, animation, and gaming – that suggest vast under-representation for many communities, including the matter that black inventors file for patents at one third the rate of white inventors. Similar patent disparities have been uncovered for women, who in 2019 accounted for just 22 per cent of US patents. Research also found that families in the top one per cent of income are ten times more likely to produce patent holders than families in the lower half.

Elsewhere, 2015 research in the animation space found that 60 per cent of animation students are women, yet men make up almost 80 per cent of animators in the workforce, according to Women in Animation data. Representation is even lower for women of colour working in animation, who are in less production roles than their white counterparts.

“At Spin Master, we create toys that inspire, characters that entertain and story lines that empower children around the world to be positive members in their communities,” Tammy SMitham, Spin Master’s VP of global communications and corporate citizenship, told Licensing.biz.

“We want to ensure that our teams creating these toys, games, and series are representative of the diverse communities in which we live and work and that children experience in their daily lives.”

With 28 offices around the world, Spin Master has stated that it will consider expanding the Scholarship programme outside of the US and across its global market based on the interest expressed by each.

“The industry is already having conversations and taking steps to increase diverse representation,” continued Smitham. “What needs to be considered is that not only are the toys, series, and experiences we create more inclusive, but that the people behind the scenes, creating, innovating, and telling the stories are diverse and representative of the kids and families they entertain.”

While the company has highlighted a commitment of $100,000 to the programme, as well as the offer of internships at Spin Master with the potential for full-time employment upon the completion of studies, the toy maker is also keen to see word of the initiative spread among networks, with an eye on awarding more scholarships that originally planned, should the firm receive more applications that expected.

“We want to be a contributor to the movement to increase diverse representation within our industry and within our company,” said Smitham. “At Spin Master we believe that diversity of thought can fuel new ideas and further innovations which will only benefit the children and families we entertain.

“We hope that our Future of Play Scholarship helps to increase representation in the industry as a whole, while also helping students who may have thought they couldn’t pursue their career dreams in the children’s entertainment industry because of lack of opportunity or funding.

“By increasing diverse representation, we can ultimately deliver even more inspiration to the children who we engage with every day.”

Sambro International appoints Paul Blackaby as new chief executive officer

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The popular toy manufacturer and distributor, Sambro International Limited has appointed Paul Blackaby as its new chief executive officer, as he looks to “lead the team through its next stage of development.”

Blackaby joined the Sambro business in February 2020 as chief financial officer, bringing with him many years of experience in both the manufacturing and consumer goods sectors at a senior level.

“I am completely delighted to be given the opportunity to lead this fantastic business and terrific team through its next stage of development,” said Blackaby. “There has been some great work undertaken in recent years which we will harness and build from – we are all excited about Sambro’s future.”

The award-winning, Manchester based business recently announced that it was assessing growth opportunities after securing a £13 million funding package with its banking partner.

Sambro achieved strong sales in 2020 despite the challenges of the pandemic and employs more than 90 people in its offices in Bury, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.

Gamestream appoints new director of content and licensing

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The cloud video game streaming service for B2B industries, Gamestream, has appointed a new director of content and licensing in the shape of Gaëlle de Jong. The appointment has been made as part of the firm’s international expansion plans as it looks to secure best-in-class partnerships in the videogames industry.

De Jong will now be responsible for leading Gamestream’s licensing and content strategy and firmly establishing its market position as a tier one provider of quality AAA and indie family video game entertainment. Currently Gamestream has licensed IPs from world leading brands including Disney, Capcom, Konami, Codemasters and Focus Home Interactive.

De Jong is also leading relationships with video game publishers and developers, helping to acquire new licenses and negotiating rights.

She joins Gamestream with 14 years of experience in the video games industry. Prior to Gamestream, she worked at Boonty in 2006, a global provider of PC video game distribution services that was acquired by Nexway in 2009, a leading electronic commerce and payments company. At Nexway, she held various senior positions including Director of Development for publishers and game developers, and Director of Android and PC Content Acquisitions.

Ivan Lebeau, CEO of Gamestream, commented: “We’re pleased to welcome Gaëlle to our growing dream team at Gamestream. She plays an instrumental role to enable us to conquer new markets with premium quality licensed content, and to support the on-going need to satisfy and improve user experience and choice for our global customers.”

Gaëlle de Jong, Director of Content and Licensing at Gamestream, commented: “I’m thrilled to be joining the talented ranks of team Gamestream. My goal is to ensure our video game content library is populated and aligned with the demands of each market which we are engaging with.

“We are executing this by integrating both international blockbuster and indie content, supported by the very best content each local market has to offer, squarely focussing on families.”

In 2002, de Jong gained a master’s degree in Applied Foreign Languages at the University of Metz, specialising in translation and interpretation, and in 2003 she completed her studies with a DESS in dubbing and subtitling of films at the University of Nice.

The Gamestream cloud gaming service has been deployed across Europe, the Middle East and Asia through white-labelled telco versions and Gamestream brands.