Fielding Joins AwesomenessTV
James D. Fielding is joining AwesomenessTV as global head of consumer products and retail. Fielding, who previously served as CEO for Claire’s and president of Disney Stores Worldwide, will oversee all consumer products and retail efforts for multi-platform media company AwesomenessTV, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of DreamWorks Animation.
Mueller Joins Topps as CFO
John Mueller was appointed CFO of The Topps Company. Mueller had been with the XO Group (formerly The Knot) for five years, where he served as CFO. He began his career at Kimberly-Clark in manufacturing and corporate finance, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility. He has also worked at Societe Generale, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Jefferies & Company.
Topps was acquired by Michael Eisner’s The Tornante Company and Madison Dearborn Partners in October 2007.
Freeman Joins DreamWorks
Brenda Freeman has joined DreamWorks Animation as the studio’s new head of television marketing. Previous posts include CMO for Turner Animation, senior vice-president of integrated marketing and promotions for Nickelodeon, MTVN Kids and Family Group. She has also served as vice-president of consumer marketing for VH1, among other posts.
Freeman’s announcement follows DreamWorks Animation’s news of an expanding television division responsible for more than 1,100 episodes of original programming over the next five years. With large-scale content deals on Netflix’s streaming service as well as international networks Super RTL in Germany and Planeta Junior in Italy, Spain, and the Mediterranean, DreamWorks Animation’s television presence spans multiple platforms and continents.
Saban Appoints Ouledcheikh
Saban Brands announced the appointment of Leila Ouledcheikh as vice-president of distribution EMEA. In this newly created role, Ouledcheikh will lead international television distribution for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from Saban Brands’ London office. Ouledcheikh will work in close collaboration with Frederic Soulie, senior vice-president of global distribution, to support expansion of the company’s television properties around the world. Her previous posts include HIT Entertainment, Entertainment Rights, and Cake Entertainment. Most recently, she ran her own consultancy, and is also a co-founder of distribution company, Headway Media & LOK Media Ltd.
Scordo Joins HABA
Scott Scordo has joined HABA in the newly created position of national sales manager. In this new role, Scordo will manage HABA’s 80 independent toy and gift sales reps across the U.S. and Canada as well as the corporate marketing team. Scordo had worked in sales at Chicco, Reeves International, Playroom Entertainment, and Shelcore Toys.
Todd Joins Canal Toys
Canal Toys announced the appointment of Peter Todd as its vice-president of sales for North and South America as the company looks to aggressively extend the success that it’s had in Europe and Asia.
Todd, a toy industry sales veteran for both the mass market and specialty retail categories, will oversee all of Canal Toys sales operations in the Americas, including the management of internal sales staff and outside sales representatives. He will handle key accounts and customize new sales initiatives and specific mass market programs.
Todd’s previous posts include Fashion Angels Enterprises, Oregon Scientific, Spin Master Toys, and Sababa Group.
Belloso González Joins Planeta Junior
Eric Belloso González has joined Planeta Junior as DreamWorks brands director. Planeta Junior recently signed an extensive multi-year television output deal with DreamWorks Animation for Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. The agreement further appoints Planeta Junior as DreamWorks Animation’s licensing agent for consumer products throughout these territories as well as in Central and Eastern European countries for both feature films and TV properties. Planeta Junior is also the exclusive distributor of televised content from DreamWorks for Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey.
He will be responsible for the commercial exploitation of all the content included in this deal and will work with the existing and dedicated teams.
Previous posts for Belloso González include Exim Licensing Group, Zinkia, and Sony Home Entertainment, among others.