Zodiak Rights Hires Consumer Products SVP

LONDON: Zodiak Rights has appointed Jennifer Lawlor as its first senior VP of strategy and planning for consumer products, effective later this month.

Lawlor will develop and oversee the implementation of Zodiak Rights and Zodiak Kids’ consumer products and brand strategy across its U.K. portfolio. She will be responsible for the global rollout of brands such as Waybuloo, Tic Toc House (working title) for Nickelodeon in the U.S. and Mister Maker, which is a CBeebies arts and crafts show. In addition, she will work to ensure the consumer product success for future commissions, co-productions and acquisitions from Zodiak Rights and Zodiak Kids.

Lawlor is joining Zodiak Rights from MTV/Nickelodeon Consumer Products, where she served as VP of emerging markets and business development for EMEA. She was responsible for overseeing Nickelodeon’s consumer products business in emerging markets and leading the international business development, including third-party acquisitions; Lawlor worked across a range of TV and consumer products properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, iCarly and South Park.

Matthew Frank, the CEO of Zodiak Rights to whom Lawlor will report, stated: “Jennifer is an absolute key hiring for us as we grow and develop our consumer products business in both the kids and non-kids areas. Her knowledge and experience of rolling out global brands is second to none and I know she will be a major asset to us just as the Zodiak portfolio of brands is expanding so rapidly.”

Lawlor added: “This is an exciting time in the evolution of Zodiak Rights. I’m thrilled to be joining such a high caliber team and to develop the CP programs for Zodiak’s quality properties with partners around the world.”