Global annual sales of Peanuts consumer products now exceed the United States $2.5 billion by retail
at Hasbro Ben Peace join the WildBrain CPLG leadership team to drive the APAC strategy from new Singapore Desk
SHANGHAI and LONDON, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — WildBrain CPLG, one of the world’s leading entertainment, sports and brand licensing agencies, has been appointed by Peanuts Worldwide as the exclusive licensing agent for the Peanuts brand in Asia Pacific (APAC), bolstering the agency’s already growing business in the region.
The agreement builds on WildBrain CPLG’s long-standing licensing relationship with Peanuts in EMEA and more recently India, which has seen Snoopy and the gang featured in extensive cross-category programs for apparel and accessories, promotions, fast moving consumer goods, toys and games, gifts, housewares, stationery, pet accessories company, etc. WildBrain CPLG’s Peanuts mandate for APAC extends to all of mainland China, hong kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwanand Thailand.
Adding these rights to WildBrain CPLG’s roster reinforces the agency’s strong growth plan in APAC, following the recently launched dedicated offices at Seoul, taipei and Singaporeas well as an extension of the existing Shanghai team, announced in April this year. In addition to APAC, WildBrain CPLG represents the Peanuts brand across the UK; France; Spain; Italy; Central & Eastern Europe; Middle East & North Africa; Germany, Austria & Swiss; Benelux; Greece; Turkey; the Nordics; and India.
The Peanuts characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, a company controlled by WildBrain Ltd., the family of Charles M. Schulzand Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. which also remains the brand’s agency for Japan.
Ben Peace join the Hasbro leadership team
Additionally, as part of a series of key hires to continue to build local team leadership and expertise, WildBrain CPLG has appointed an industry veteran Ben Peace as Vice President, APAC, to lead strategy and growth for the region (excluding Greater China). Peace will be based on WildBrain Singapore desks.
Peace has over 15 years of licensing and media industry experience with in-depth knowledge of conceptualizing and implementing business strategy in the APAC region. He joins WildBrain CPLG from Hasbro, where he is Senior Director of Licensing, Asia. Prior to Hasbro, Peace worked at Universal Pictures, where he started their merchandising business in South East Asia, after roles in global licensing and sales for the company’s Home Entertainment division. He has also held senior positions at Aldi and Proctor & Gamble. Peace begins her role at WildBrain CPLG in September 2022 and report to Martin WeckEVP and MD, WildBrain CPLG, who is also responsible for managing the overall team and activities in APAC.
WildBrain China’s existing licensing team in Shanghai will be expanded and renamed WildBrain CPLG China, under the responsibility of Jianbo Weidoctor, China, in close collaboration with Weck and Peace. Wei will also continue to oversee WildBrain’s content activities by China.
Eric EllenbogenCEO and Vice President of WildBrain, said, “As the brand owner and producer of all-new Peanuts content under our long-term agreement with Apple TV+, and now as a consumer products agency for Peanuts in more than 50 countries worldwide, our global organization is uniquely positioned to ensure the continued growth of this remarkable intellectual property. Snoopy and the gang are well known and loved throughout APAC, and as we continue to roll out our new Peanuts animated content for China and the broader territory, we see limitless opportunities to increase brand engagement and significantly increase revenue, with consumer products as a pillar of our 360-degree brand strategy.”
Tim EricsonExecutive Vice President of Brand at Peanuts Worldwide, said, “We are thrilled to partner with WildBrain CPLG in key territories across APAC to provide exceptional consumer product solutions to our licensees and the amazing fans of Peanuts. . Peanuts continues to bond deeply with fans of all ages. , and we are excited to establish more by Charles Schulz almost 75 years of heritage in this important region. We have a successful partnership with WildBrain CPLG through Europeand we now look forward to extending these best practices to the high-growth APAC region.”
Martin WeckEVP and MD, WildBrain CPLG, added, “Peanuts has a strong heritage around the world, and at WildBrain CPLG, we have unparalleled knowledge and passion for this iconic brand. In Asia-Pacific in particular, with Jianbo and his growing team in Chinaand Ben joining us as one of many world-class new hires slated for the region, we are uniquely positioned to drive forward the growth of Peanuts, as well as our growing list of brand representation for entertainment, sports and lifestyle.”
Peanuts is the first major new representation signed by WildBrain CPLG in the territory since the agency announced its expansion into APAC earlier this year. Expansion expands WildBrain CPLG’s global footprint to 20 offices and 90 countries, with operations across North America, Europethe Middle Eastand Asia Pacific.
In addition to Peanuts, WildBrain CPLG APAC represents and manages WildBrain-owned brands in the region, such as Strawberry Shortcake, In the Night Garden, Inspector Gadget and Teletubbies, as well as certain existing third-party intellectual property rights in its entertainment portfolios and of lifestyle. , including SEGA, Sauber, Absolut, malibuParental Advisory, Master Lock, Yale University and the University of Southern California.
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For more information please contact:
Aimée Norman at The DDA Group
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7957 564 050
About WildBrain CPLG
WildBrain CPLG is one of the world’s leading entertainment, sports and brand licensing agencies, with offices in the UK, Benelux, Nordics, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Greece & Turkey, Indiathe Middle East, and the United States. With 50 years of experience in the licensing industry, WildBrain CPLG provides its clients with dedicated licensing and marketing professionals, as well as fully integrated product development, legal and accounting services. WildBrain CPLG believes collaboration is about clarity, openness, and trust, and is widely known for its simple, no-frills approach. WildBrain CPLG is part of WildBrain Ltd., a global leader in children’s and family entertainment. Please contact us or visit the WildBrain CPLG website for more information: www.cplg.com.
About Peanuts
The Peanuts characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz, which first introduced Peanuts to the world in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have left an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand around the world through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions. , cultural events, social media and comics available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Law Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” under applicable securities laws with respect to the Company, including, without limitation, statements regarding the representation of Peanuts Worldwide by WildBrain CPLG in the APAC and the Company’s business strategies and operating activities. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on information currently available to the Company. Actual results or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current outbreak of COVID-19, the extent and duration of economic disruption resulting from the global outbreak of COVID-19, market factors, changes in local regulatory requirements, changes in laws and policies affecting trade, investment and taxes (including laws and policies relating to repatriation of funds and withholding taxes), varying degrees of intellectual property protection, instability of foreign economies and governments, foreign exchange and currency risks, cultural barriers, and risk factors discussed in documents filed from time to time with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including matters discussed es under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form and Annual Management Discussion and Analysis. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
SOURCEWildBrain Ltd.
