Ryan Kernan will focus on growing Greenlight’s key estates such as Buzz Aldrin, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, among others.

NORTH AMERICA–Branded Entertainment Network, which connects brands to consumers through entertainment, has appointed Ryan Kernan to serve as senior director of merchandise licensing for its Greenlight team.

In his new role, Kernan will be responsible for developing strategies and executing programs to maximize licensing opportunities across represented personalities through the development of wholesale, direct-to-retail, direct-to-consumer and other licensee relationships across a variety of categories. Kernan’s main focus will be on some of Greenlight’s key estates including Sophia Loren, Buzz Aldrin, Albert Einstein, Steve McQueen and Thomas Edison.

Prior to joining BEN, Kernan served as associate director of licensing at DwellStudio; senior licensing manager of home and men’s furnishings at Nautica; and brand manager for the Ernest Hemingway Collection.

“Growing Greenlight’s expertise and leadership in the merchandise licensing industry is essential for BEN’s continued growth and success,” says Tamra Knepfer, senior vice president, BEN and Greenlight. “With Ryan’s impressive track record of building iconic, lifestyle brands, especially within the soft lines categories, Greenlight is well-poised to be a driving force of creativity and success for our roster of iconic talent.”