TCG Strengthen Management Team with New Hires
TCG is strengthening its executive team with three new hires. Licensing industry veteran Kelly Elwood joins the company as vice-president, marketing and licensing. Joining Elwood is Steve Gibson, who was named to the newly created position of vice-president of operations, and Leila Nosrati as head of TCG’s inventor relations and product acquisition.
Elwood replaces Jessica Gavin, who after more than six years with TCG, is moving on to new adventures.
With a deep understanding of the children’s licensing space, Elwood brings with her more than 20 years management and marketing experience working for companies such as Mattel, DHX Media, Nelvana, Cookie Jar, and CINAR. Throughout her career, Elwood has overseen and managed toys and entertainment licensing for some of the best-loved and iconic children’s entertainment brands, including Barbie, Caillou, and Entertainment One’s Peppa Pig and PJ Masks (as licensing agent). Prior to joining TCG, Elwood was director, retail marketing in North America for Nelvana. She began her career with Multifoods and Unilever.
Gibson joins TCG with more than 20 years of retail, private brands and global sourcing experience, including managing overseas purchasing operations and vendor relationships. Previously, Gibson held senior posts at Loblaw, Hudson’s Bay Company, and Zellers. Most recently, he served as vice-president of global sourcing, merchandising, and private brands for The Source (Bell) Electronics and vice-president of global operations for its wholly-owned subsidiary, SeaLink Sourcing Group.
An accomplished retail merchant with extensive experience managing some of the largest toy categories, Nosrati, who was a director of merchandising for Toys “R” Us for 14 years, has worked with manufacturers, licensors and studios to bring retail programs to life. She has collaborated on strategic planning, concept development, assortment growth, and retail strategy to execute programs that deliver brand and category expansion. In 2013, she earned the Wonder Woman Retailer Award from Women in Toys.