The Grapevine is a leading news collation service for all recent moves or promotions in the licensing industry (we only use previously published material). Our ‘Employee of the Month’ allows companies to nominate a member of staff who has shown excellent commitment in the last year. Anyone from the Cleaner to the CEO can be nominated if they have genuinely helped the licensing process in your organisation.
Employee of the Month
Sports Direct’s profits hit almost £120m, ten times more than last year. Mike Ashley’s sportswear company said in a recent statement that it made profits of £119.5m last year, on sales of £1.45bn. Revenues were up from £1.37bn to £1.45bn its brand division, which includes Slazenger and Dunlop didn’t fare nearly as well, posting a 17% drop in sales to £190m.
The bumper results are at least in part due to efforts to cut costs and reduce its net debt by 27.7% - although it remains at a fairly hefty £311.9m meaning that long-suffering shareholders still won’t receive a dividend.
So increased sales and profits, and no dividends, Newcastle United ownership, huge brand ownership, an interesting relationship with the City all combined make Mike Ashley our employee of the month!
Hot Topic:
Licensing Sales
It doesn’t matter how much we like to dress it up as pure marketing and brand positioning, most of us in the licensing industry are in sales. Unless it is on a retainer, the role of the licensing agent is to sell. Being in sales is not a bad thing. It is about time this was recognised as a positive discipline and execs should be trained accordingly.
Latest executive moves in the industry…
Steven Ballard
joins the Smiley Factory (Smileyworld division) as International Sales and Brand Director
Iain Parker
joins Performance Brands as International Manager
Kirk Bloomgarden
joins Saban Brands as SVP of International Licensing
Herb Scannell
has been named president of BBC Worldwide America
Zoe Scurfield
joins Coolabi as Head of Development and Production from Disney
Andrew Kerr
leaves Classic Media to establish a new venture
Nicole Blake
is promoted to EVP, Marketing and consumer products at Classic Media
Chris Protheroe
becomes EVP, CPLG having moved across from Copyright Promotions Sport where he was MD
John Spotts
becomes VP, Licensing and International at Eddie Bauer having left Franklin Covey
Michele Pearce
becomes Senior Brand and Sales Manager for Performance Brands
Job of the Month
Hot Topics
Executive Moves
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Steven Ballard
joins the Smiley Factory (Smileyworld division) as International Sales and Brand Director
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Iain Parker
joins Performance Brands as International Manager