Licensing International has announced that six executives—Paul Cannon, Caprice Australia; Carolyn D’Angelo, Gordon Brothers; Pamela Deese, ArentFox Schiff; Raj Malik, Bioworld Merchandising; Marie-Laure Marchand, Chefclub; and George Wade, Bay Laurel Advisors—were elected by the Licensing International membership to serve three-year terms on its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2023.
As these six new board members joining the Licensing International Board, Steve Scebelo, President of NFL Players Inc., will continue to serve as chairperson; Veronica Hart, EVP of Global Franchise Planning for Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences, will continue to serve as vice chairperson; and Marc Schneider, Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer at Beanstalk, will continue to serve as treasurer.
“I am so pleased to welcome the six new members of our Board, whose diverse experiences and invaluable knowledge will help Licensing International support the expansion of brand licensing around the world,” said Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “I want to thank outgoing board members Valerie Mitchell Johnston, Alan Kravetz, Vincent Leoni, Roz Nowicki, Steven Wolfe Pereira, and Miki Yamamoto for their time and dedication.”
Meet the six new Licensing International Board Members:
Paul Cannon – CEO at Caprice Australia – Paul Cannon has been a dedicated member of the Licensing Industry for more than 34 years. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Caprice Australia, with responsibility for over 100 employees, the day-to-day running of the business, and the overall success of Australia’s leading licensed consumer goods company covering apparel, footwear, bags, and homewares. Since joining Caprice Australia in 2009, Paul has gone from strength to strength, initially setting up and heading Caprice’s licensed footwear and bag division. He quickly moved into the CEO position and played a key role in acquiring several brands for Caprice Australia, including Mambo and Dri-Glo.
Carolyn D’Angelo — President of Laura Ashley Global & Senior Managing Director, Brand Operations, Gordon Brothers – Carolyn D’Angelo has been a leader in the brands space for over 30 years, specializing in strategic marketing, licensing, and brand building among the best brands in the fashion and home lifestyle industries. In her current role at Gordon Brothers, Carolyn is Senior Managing Director, Brand Operations, and President of Laura Ashley. Carolyn leads new business development and licensing opportunities within the equity and debt portfolios. As President of Laura Ashley, she develops categories and geographies within the British brand’s home and fashion sectors. She also oversees the Nicole Miller brand, which became part of the portfolio in 2022.
Pamela Deese — Partner at Arentfox Schiff – Pam is a law partner with ArentFox Schiff and based in the firm’s DC office. Her practice focuses on intellectual property representation and includes counseling brand owners and patent pools in developing and maintaining strategic licensing programs as well as maintaining IP portfolios. Pam’s work also includes advertising review and litigation for consumer products companies. Among other things, she provides counsel with respect to the creation, negotiation, and enforcement of licenses and related agreements as well as the management of worldwide IP rights and representation involving counterfeiting, sweepstakes and promotions, endorsements, and related business litigation.
Raj Malik — Founder and CEO of Bioworld Merchandising Inc. – Raj Malik is the founder and CEO of Bioworld Merchandising Inc., the leading global manufacturer of licensed apparel, accessories, and home goods. The Irving-based company has 10 offices worldwide, including operations in Canada, China, India, and the United Kingdom, with over 500 employees. Born in India, Raj moved to Texas to attend the University of Texas at Arlington, graduating in 1993 with a degree in Computer Science Engineering. While attending college, Raj worked in various roles within the retail and distribution industry, which ultimately led to the founding of Bioworld in 2000.
Marie-Laure Marchand — SVP, Business Development & Global Consumer Products at Chefclub – With 30 years of licensing experience in the kids’ media and entertainment industry, Marie-Laure Marchand is Senior Vice President, Business Development & Global Consumer Products at Chefclub, a global foodthemed studio and entertainment brand. Every month 300 million viewers watch the brand’s cooking shows on social networks and connected TVs. She began her career at Nelvana, where she set up its EMEA Consumer Products Division in Paris and elevated renowned brands such as Babar, Franklin, and Beyblade across all platforms. More recently Marchand has held a number of key positions at leading animation houses, Studio 100, and Xilam.
George Wade — President of Bay Laurel Advisors – With over 40 years in the entertainment and leisure industry, George Wade has become a leading innovator in the project development and licensing of major entertainment brands for high-end, location-based entertainment (LBE) projects, including theme parks, themed attractions, and interactive entertainment venues. His career in licensing for LBE began in the 1990s when he licensed Robocop for Iwerks Entertainment as a major simulation ride. From 2004 to 2009 he served as Senior Vice President of Location-Based Entertainment Licensing for MGM Studios. In 2009, he formed Bay Laurel Advisors, an independent consultancy focused on LBE licensing and project management. Their clients have included Crayola Corp., Cartoon Network USA, Peanuts Worldwide, Rovio Inc/Angry Birds, Hasbro Entertainment, Microsoft/Halo, and Hershey Corp., to name a few.