New senior role for Steve Manners at Licensing International UK

Licensing International has announced that U.K. managing director Graham Saltmarsh will be leaving the organisation. LI’s current global marketing head Steve Manners will add U.K. managing director to his remit as Licensing International intensifies its focus on the U.K. 

“We are incredibly grateful to outgoing U.K. managing director Graham Saltmarsh for bringing back LEC live and in person, launching the retail programme and for all of his hard work throughout the pandemic, righting the ship and steering our U.K. members through Covid,” says Maura Regan, president, Licensing International.

Based in London, Manners will be responsible for supporting Licensing International’s UK members and expanding the U.K. membership through educational programmes, expanded retail initiatives, and the Young Professionals Network (YPN). He will continue to collaborate with Informa on joint initiatives including BLE and Licensing Expo, as well as overseeing Licensing International’s marketing. This role expansion will become effective on July 18.

“It has been a joy working with the Licensing International team and I am thrilled to continue those efforts with a focus on strengthening our strategy in the U.K., which is a key market for the global licensing community,” says Manners.

Manners first joined Licensing International in January, overseeing global marketing efforts for the trade organisation. He brings extensive industry experience to the role, having held senior management positions at leading companies including 20th Century Fox, Universal, Beanstalk and WildBrain CPLG. His expertise includes a deep understanding of all aspects of licensing, both from a licensor and agent perspective.

Licensing International appoints Steve Manners as Head of Marketing

Licensing International has announced the appointment of Steve Manners as Head of Marketing. Based in the UK, Manners will oversee global marketing efforts for Licensing International, the leading trade organisation for the global licensing industry.

Manners brings extensive industry experience to his new role, having held senior management positions at leading companies including 20th Century Fox, Universal and Beanstalk. Most recently, Manners worked with WildBrain CPLG, where he spent more than ten years as VP Business Development, overseeing strategy development, marketing and client services.

“I am thrilled to be working with Licensing International at a time when the industry is going through significant change due to the challenges of Covid,” Manners says. “Together with [Licensing International President] Maura Regan and the team, we’ll be looking at ways to further support LI members and add even greater value whilst continuing to elevate the industry across the broader business community.”

“We are at a pivotal time within the licensing industry, and Steve brings both new perspective and deep understanding of the industry to our organisation,” says Maura Regan. “Having worked with Steve for years in his previous roles, I am thrilled he’s joined our team, and confident he will help us better serve Licensing International members worldwide.”

For more information and updates from Licensing International, visit LicensingInternational.org.

 

Steve Manners named VP of business development at WildBrain CPLG and WildBrain Spark

WildBrain has appointed Steve Manners to drive a new business development initiative designed to help licensors and content creators reach consumer audiences through YouTube.

In the newly created role, Manners will work with clients to build brand management programmes that leverage the blended expertise of WildBrain’s established consumer products licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG, and its WildBrain Spark network and studio.

According to the firm the initiative reflects WildBrain’s position to “offer a full approach to brand management and monetisation through its expertise in consumer products licensing, content creation, and digital distribution.”

Maarten Weck, EVP and managing director at WildBrain CPLG, said: “We have been working closely with our colleagues at WildBrain Spark as the licensing industry becomes increasingly attuned of the potential of YouTube and other digital platforms for launching, supporting or reinvigorating IP.

“Steve is the ideal person to spearhead business initiatives that help inform and support our clients as they look to navigate the digital landscape, and his new role will help maximise the synergies across our businesses.”

Jon Gisby, managing director at WildBrain Spark, added: “WildBrain Spark’s expertise in digital distribution and content creation can help IP owners and their licensees engage audiences across the world, and maximise the return on their marketing investments.

“With approximately four billion views per month on our YouTube network, we have an abundance of insights and data that can drive consumer products strategies and campaigns. In addition, we assist licensors in creating ‘always on’ content delivery on YouTube to further engage consumers and support brand activity, so it’s a natural step to harmonise our offering for IP owners.

“Steve’s experience and relationships in the licensing world will enable us to enhance our services and forge expanded and new partnerships.”

As VP, business development WildBrain CPLG and WildBrain Spark, Manners will report to Weck and Gisby. He boasts nearly 30 years’ experience in consumer products. Since 2010, he has been a key member of the management team that has seen WildBrain CPLG become one of the world’s top consumer products licensing agencies.

Manners has played an integral role at the agency in overseeing the successful programmes of key licensors and also securing new representation. Prior to CPLG, he held senior positions at 20th Century Fox, Universal and Beanstalk.

Manners added: “There is a huge opportunity for IP owners in harnessing the expertise, tools and reach of both WildBrain CPLG and WildBrain Spark – it’s a very exciting time to be at the forefront of this bold new world.

“We are uniquely positioned to offer combined expertise and services that benefit those coming from the AVOD-first space to consumer products, as well as those licensors looking to leverage YouTube as a tool.”