Continuing its mission to bring quality children’s content and
branded products to screens and shelves around the world,
Genius Brands International, Inc. (“Genius
Brands” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: GNUS), a global brand management
company that creates and licenses multimedia entertainment content
for children, announced today the appointment of
Kerry
Phelan, a 30-year consumer branding
executive
, to the newly created position of
Executive Vice President & General Manager of Global Franchise
Management. Phelan will report to both
Andy
Heyward, Chairman & CEO, and
Harold
Chizick, President of Global Content Sales, Marketing
& Consumer Products.
After she successfully launched the Star
Wars brand at LEGO Systems Inc., Phelan was recruited
directly to Lucasfilm Ltd. where she led the global consumer
products & promotional licensing business for
the multi-billion-dollar Star Wars franchise
in over 60 countries worldwide. She then joined Pixar Animation
Studios, reporting directly to Steve Jobs, where she launched, in
concert with Disney Consumer Products, the original
Cars consumer product program, which became a top
tier, blockbuster franchise totaling more than $8B in retail sales.
Following Pixar, Phelan spent seven years at DreamWorks Animation
as head of consumer products and licensing, driving the development
of franchise management plans for the studio’s film and television
properties, including Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How
to Train Your Dragon & others. At DreamWorks, she
managed the retail consumer products business and doubled the
consumer products revenue in just three years. Most recently, she
served as President of Global Franchise Management at Lionsgate
Entertainment, where under her leadership, the studio created brand
extensions spanning location-based and live entertainment venues,
consumer products, licensed merchandise, brand partnerships and an
array of promotional ventures for such blockbuster franchises as
The Hunger Games and
Twilight.
In her new role at Genius Brands, Phelan will be
responsible for global management of the Company’s existing IP
across licensing, merchandising, retail and promotions, including
Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Shaq’s
Garage, Stan Lee Universe, and
Rainbow Rangers, as well as properties currently
in development.
“Kerry’s pedigree and reputation in
entertainment branding is unparalleled as she has driven the global
revenue streams of some of the most lucrative franchises in
history,” stated Chizick. “In the coming
year, we have multiple properties launching into the global retail
marketplace, including Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, which
just premiered on Kartoon Channel!, as well as Shaq’s Garage and
Stan Lee Universe plus more categories coming to market around
Rainbow Rangers. Kerry’s leadership and strategic guidance will be
instrumental in driving the growth of our brands around the world.
She is a dream executive to have on board to help us achieve our
long-term goals.”
“The majority of my career has been spent
building properties into global franchises, specifically in the
children’s space. Having had a peek at the coming pipeline, I am
excited about the future at Genius Brands and the opportunity to
build bigger brand ecosystems around their properties,” said
Phelan.
About Genius Brands
InternationalGenius Brands International, Inc. (Nasdaq:
GNUS) is a leading global kids media company developing, producing,
marketing and licensing branded children’s entertainment properties
and consumer products for media and retail distribution. The
Company’s ‘content with a purpose’ portfolio includes Stan
Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, on
Kartoon Channel!; Shaq’s Garage, starring Shaquille O’Neal on
Kartoon Channel!; Rainbow Rangers on Kartoon Channel! and
Netflix; Llama Llama, starring Jennifer Garner, on Netflix;
award-winning toddler brand Baby Genius; adventure comedy STEM
series Thomas Edison's Secret Lab; and entrepreneurship
series Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club. Through
licensing agreements with leading partners, characters from Genius
Brands’ IP also appear on a wide range of consumer products for the
worldwide retail marketplace. The Company’s Kartoon Channel! and
Kartoon Classroom! are available in over 100 million U.S.
television households via a broad range of distribution platforms,
including Comcast, Cox, DISH, Sling TV, Amazon
Prime, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Apple iOS, Android TV,
Android Mobil, Google Play, Xumo, Roku, Tubi, YouTube,
KartoonChannel.com, Samsung Smart TVs and LG TVs. For additional
information, please visit www.gnusbrands.com.
Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements
in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as
"may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast,"
"project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements
regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are
forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should
not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are
based on information available to us on the date of this release.
These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates
and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties,
including without limitation, our ability to generate revenue or
achieve profitability; our ability to obtain additional financing
on acceptable terms, if at all; the potential issuance of a
significant number of shares, which will dilute our equity holders;
fluctuations in the results of our operations from period to
period; general economic and financial conditions; our ability to
anticipate changes in popular culture, media and movies, fashion
and technology; competitive pressure from other distributors of
content and within the retail market; our reliance on and
relationships with third-party production and animation studios;
our ability to market and advertise our products; our reliance on
third-parties to promote our products; our ability to keep pace
with technological advances; our ability to protect our
intellectual property and those other risk factors set forth in the
“Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K and in the Company's subsequent filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Thus, actual
results could be materially different. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law.
MEDIA CONTACT:pr@gnusbrands.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
CONTACT:ir@gnusbrands.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0abd3d4-0eef-4680-afe4-d40e3b8a9fce
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