Granada Ventures Revamps Licensing Team

LONDON, November 2: Granada Ventures has restructured its
licensing team, which includes the elevation of Julie Quirke to senior brand
and licensing manager for preschool, along with other promotions across units
like new media, sports and retail.

In her new role, Quirke will be responsible for children’s
properties like Numberjacks and Pocoyo. She will also be supported by Jo Bird, who was
recently promoted from creative executive to the newly-created role of brand
and licensing executive for preschool.

For new media, Van Uong has added promotions to his remit
and is now brand and licensing manager for new media and promotions.

Martin Binyon will be the brand and licensing manager
responsible for the Gerry Anderson portfolio, drama, comedy and entertainment,
and Ed Abis, the commercial sports manager, will report to Mel Beer, the new
head of licensing at Granada Ventures, on all sports licensing activity. Binyon
and Abis will be supported by Emily Briggs, who has been promoted to brand and
licensing for executive sports, drama, comedy and entertainment. Beer will be
recruiting for the international position of brand and licensing manager for
the girl-skewing property Bella Sara
next year.

Nicole Withers adds retail to her existing marketing
responsibilities, becoming retail and marketing manager. Michelle Smith
continues in her role as creative director, with Stacey Pyper as the head of
creative and Steve Kidd as creative assistant. Beer is now actively seeking a
new creative executive following Bird’s new appointment.

Paula Miller, the VP of licensing for the U.S., will
continue to represent the Granada Ventures brands in the U.S., based in the Los
Angeles office.

—By Irene Lew