Iconix Founder, CEO Steps Down

Neil Cole is stepping down from his positions as chief executive officer, chairman and president of Iconix Brand Group, the company that he founded in 2005.

April 6, 2018

Neil Cole resigns a decade after founding the brand management company.

Iconix board member Peter Cuneo, who previously served as president and chief executive officer of Marvel Entertainment, has been appointed as chairman of the board and interim CEO while a successor is sought.

Cole will serve as a special advisor to the company through Sept. 30 to help with the transition, after which he intends to pursue other business opportunities.

Since its launch a decade ago, Iconix has grown to include a portfolio of consumer brands that now includes Candie's, Badgley Mischka, Joe Boxer, Mossimo, London Fox, Rocawear, Starter, Sharper Image, Mark Ecko, Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake. The company is the fourth largest licensor in the world, bringing in $13 billion in retail sales of licensed merchandise in 2014, according to

License! Global

's exclusive

Top 150 Global Licensors

report.

"Neil Cole is a pioneer in

our industry and as founder of this company has overseen its significant growth for the past 10 years," says Cuneo. "Under Neil's leadership, Iconix has acquired over 35 iconic consumer brands creating a diversified and powerful portfolio. On behalf of the Board we want to thank Neil for his vision, dedication and the countless other contributions he has made to Iconix. The board believes strongly in the future of Iconix's underlying business, as signified by its diversified portfolio of iconic consumer brands, outstanding global licensing network and strong free cash flow generation. Our strategy will not change, and we are highly confident that the company is well positioned to resume its growth trajectory, organically and through new acquisitions in the months and years ahead."