Trudi Hayward & Jean-Philippe Randisi Join Forces for bRAND-WARD

Licensing veterans Trudi Hayward and Jean-Philippe Randisi have created bRAND-WARD, a new company that aims to provide support to IP owners and creators in the kids’ entertainment business.

bRAND-WARD seeks to help spur growth for IP owners and creators outside of their core business and to monetize their IP globally while minimizing risk. The company will provide support across content (sourcing IP, content and production strategy, production financing and co-production); brand development (market positioning, marketing strategy and plans, digital exposure, creative assets development); and sales (TV/digital and consumer products strategy, blending, appointment and management of distributors and agents).

bRAND-WARD is currently working with the kids’ division of China’s Hengxin Shambala, and Paris-based Cyber Group Studios.

Hayward previously worked for Viacom, where she set up the Nickelodeon U.K. consumer products business and then later looked after all pan-European activities, and ITV, where she was in charge of global consumer products. After several years at Disney, Randisi ran Saban Consumer Products in Europe. He set up the consumer products business at Viacom in Europe with Hayward and later took over international. Randisi also spent time heading up consumer products, home entertainment and international digital, and kids content production at ITV before more recently serving as the CEO of Zodiak Kids.

Hayward said: “I am delighted to be working with Jean-Philippe again, and I suspect it will be no surprise to the industry that we have joined forces again to offer our clients the best strategy across content and monetization, globally!”

Randisi added: “With my content and media expertise and Trudi’s consumer products and local market knowledge of the retail nuances, we hope that partners will find our services hugely beneficial when creating and rolling out new IP.”