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FACE TO FACE WITH: RACHEL WAKLEY Left: Wom
Inset: Rachel Wakley (front row second right), pictured with some of the UK Warner Bros. Consumer Products team at The Licensing Awards.
A year of learning A year to the day since she started her role as general manager consumer products UK & Ireland at Warner Bros. Consumer Products, LSB caught up with Rachel Wakley to find out more on the plans she has put in place, key initiatives from the past 12 months and why the future of licensing at retail is so exciting.
licensing, much like many other “The past year has just gone so companies, alongside IP, our fast,” says Rachel Wakley, as she people are the most important sits down to chat to LSB exactly a asset to our business.” year to the day that she took up The UK consumer products team the role of general manager, is broadly split between category consumer products, UK & and retail from an external point of Ireland at Warner Bros. view, however supporting the Consumer Products. whole function there is also a Since arriving from Tesco, the team of legal, franchise, finance and team support. last 12 months has seen Rachel shape the team at The category team is split into core business WBCP, with a primary focus to make sure that it is areas and is led by senior licensing manager Nick set up to deliver for the next five years, as well as working hard to finalise key quarter four Above: Superman, Batman activations for this year. “We have a rich portfolio and Wonder Woman feature in the DC Burgers and of franchises, and ensuring we are continuing to Sausages range with Asda. work with the best partners possible, are imperative to that success,” Rachel tells LSB. “The first thing I did at Warner was to get to know the team. In
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Inset: The partnership with Hamleys to bring the Wizarding World to life has created a “really impactful experience” says Rachel. LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2018