10-11 SOTN Corp_muk.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 24/09/2020 08:43 Page 10
STATE OF THE NATION: CORPORATE
Business heads From major new appointments and anniversary plans through to podcast launches and growth ambitions for 2021, the licensing industry is taking Q4 by the horns. LSB takes a look at just some of the latest activity. Right: Sonic the Hedgehog turns 30 in 2021.
Graham Saltmarsh to lead Licensing International UK Licensing International has appointed Graham Saltmarsh Above: “It’s more important than ever to bring all the different to head up the UK division of elements of this industry the trade body. together” says Graham. A popular figure in the UK licensing sector, Graham was most recently director of licensing and retail for the UK & Nordics at Turner Broadcasting. “In these trying times it’s more important than ever to bring all the different elements of this amazing industry together to share knowledge and expertise,” commented Graham. “I am looking forward to working with Licensing International and to connecting people who are passionate about licensing and retail to drive the business forward.” Maura Regan, president of Licensing International, added: “We are thrilled to have Graham on board, leading the charge in the UK for Licensing International. His deep understanding of the UK licensing community, combined with a fantastic ‘can do’ attitude is a wonderful addition to the Licensing International team.”
SEGA Europe readies for Festival of Licensing SEGA Europe is looking forward to sharing its upcoming plans to mark the 30th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog in 2021 during October’s Festival of Licensing. The company is planning a year of celebration including some major announcements, digital content, partnerships and a tailored licensing programme. In addition, Paramount has recently confirmed a sequel to the Sonic movie - the original hit cinemas earlier this year and has grossed over $300 million to date, making it one of the most successful video games movies of all time. SEGA Europe will be showcasing its full portfolio of IP during the Festival - from its long-established retro licensing programme through to a roster of new gaming IP. This includes a ground-breaking new first person shooter IP which comes from SEGA’s award winning studio, Creative Assembly - the team behind Alien: Isolation and Halo Wars 2.
B&LLAs and The Licensing Awards to go digital for 2020 This year’s Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards and The Licensing Awards will now take place as digital events. Both will retain their original dates and will be evening events, with the winners of the B&LLAs 2020 being crowned on Monday November 9, followed by The Licensing Awards on Wednesday December 16. “While we had hoped with all our hearts to be able to meet and celebrate the achievements of the brand and lifestyle and character and entertainment licensing sectors in person, the ongoing situation means we are unable to do this safely at the moment,” commented Ian Hyder, joint md of Max Publishing. “This has been an extraordinary year, and we are determined to honour the work of the industry and we promise these special virtual ceremonies will do just that. We’d like to thank our sponsors and the licensing industry in general for their continued support, and we look forward to sharing more on how you can get involved over the coming weeks." You can find out the finalists in The Licensing Awards on pages 32-35 and the B&LLAs on pages 90-93.
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2020