Licensing International is pleased to announce that six licensing professionals will receive the 2022 Rising Star Award. For the last ten years, Rising Stars from around the world have been nominated by their peers and recognized for their contributions to, and passion for, the global brand licensing industry.
“We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the talented young professionals who will become the future leaders of our global brand licensing community,” said Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “Licensing International would also like to say a huge thank you to our Rising Stars committee members, who have the difficult task of selecting among the best of the best.”
This year’s Rising Stars will be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction and Rising Star Awards on December 7, 2022, at the Gotham Hall in New York City. The event is a fundraiser for Licensing International’s Scholarship Program and supports the LI Foundation in its mission to inspire the next generation of licensing professionals globally. Registration for the event is available online.
The 2022 Rising Star award recipients are:
Jimmy Lee, Licensing Director at Semk Holdings International
Based in China
Jimmy Lee has been fascinated by character images since childhood. He studied strategic brand management for his Master’s degree at the University of Hull, England. After graduating, he joined Semk Global Marketing in 2017 and was responsible for licensing events and themed parks in the Mainland China market, where he gained experience in everything from project planning to implementation. He has also developed a number of cultural and tourism licensing and F&B projects. Now, Jimmy is in charge of Semk’s LBE business, where he focuses on implementing new licensing strategies for its characters and the market.
Tetiana Ruban, CEO of Nerd Agency
Based in Ukraine
Tetiana Ruban led the Nerd Agency in 2020. She gathered a team, acquired brands in the middle of the pandemic, and played a major part in closing licensing deals. Nerd Agency has launched dozens of licensed products with these licensing partners. Even now, regardless of the war in Ukraine, the agency continues to operate, acquiring new properties, making new deals, and launching products. Nerd Agency went international and is now focused on the CEE market. Additionally, Tetiana was the idea author and general producer of the charity licensed brand ‘Call me Ukraine.’ Tetiana holds a doctorate of philosophy in international economics from Kyiv National Economics University.
Julia Cruse, Senior Manager, Licensing at Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products
Based in U.S.
Julia Cruse began her career at Iconix Brand Group, where she worked with classic character brands including Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake supporting licensees across the toy, gift, and seasonal categories. She is a strategic thinker, creative force, and understands the power of licensing in bringing consumers closer to the brands they love. In her current role, Julia oversees licensees and new business across HGTV, Food Network, and Animal Planet brands and sub-brands. She manages licensees across the toy, home, QSR, and food categories and maintains strong relationships with retail licensees including Macy’s and Target. She is based in New York City, is an avid cook, and loves traveling in her spare time.
Zach Fiegel, Director of Global Partnerships and Media at NBA
Based in U.S.
Zach Fiegel joined the NBA’s Associates Program in 2014 and began his licensing career in 2015, working as a coordinator for the NBA’s global merchandising business. Today, he is part of the team that manages the NBA’s global merchandising partnerships in the apparel, headwear, basketball, and eCommerce categories, working with partners including Nike, New Era, Wilson, Fanatics, Outerstuff, and Mitchell & Ness to grow merchandise’s impact as an engagement tool with fans around the globe. Zach grew up in Illinois, graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2014, and is a proud brother of four younger siblings.
Melanie Kaplan, Licensing Manager at Sesame Workshop
Based in U.S.
Melanie Kaplan is licensing manager at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street. Melanie, who has been at the Workshop since 2020, manages the customization and print-on-demand business and oversees the marketing and product development across a variety of categories in North America including apparel, accessories, footwear, health and beauty, food, and infant. She works directly with brands to elevate Sesame Street through unique collaboration executions, most recently with Pair Eyewear, Under Armour, Pottery Barn Kids, Hanna Andersson, and Hedley & Bennett. Melanie, who resides in New York, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Media Management from The State University of New York at New Paltz. Prior to joining Sesame Workshop, she worked in merchandising at Marvel Entertainment.
Arianna Marks, Deputy General Counsel at Beanstalk
Based in U.S.
Arianna Marks is responsible for representing high-profile celebrity and corporate clients in all legal matters relating to brand equity and extension, as well as enforcing and protecting clients’ intellectual property rights. Arianna leads negotiations and drafts international commercial agreements for licenses, publishing, sponsorship, marketing, vendors, product, eCommerce and advertising. Additionally, Arianna facilitates short-term and long-range strategic planning approaches across the legal and business teams to grow Beanstalk in the U.S. and internationally. Arianna began her full-time career at Beanstalk in 2018 and has more than five years of experience in the legal field, with a ke