Genius Brands Adds Licensing Expert to Board of DirectorsGenius Brands Adds Licensing Expert to Board of Directors

Genius Brands International has announced that Karen McTier has joined the company’s Board of Directors and will bring her experience to guide the development of Genius Brands’ rapidly growing slate of properties.

“I have witnessed the growth of Genius Brands over the years and see the potential the company has to build its catalog of children’s brands into globally successful programs,” says McTier. “I am honored to join the Board and use my expertise in global brand building to work with Andy and the team to help guide the Company to create and grow valuable brands,”

As former executive vice president, worldwide consumer products, Warner Bros. Entertainment Group of Companies, McTier has spent the majority of her career managing and building powerhouse brands such as “Batman,” “Superman,” “Wonder Woman,” “Harry Potter,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Looney Tunes” and “Scooby-Doo” into successful global consumer products programs. Her purview included all categories of worldwide licensing, retail, partnerships, promotions, marketing, creative and themed entertainment for Warner Bros.’ brands on a global scale. During her tenure, the division experienced unprecedented growth and profitability. 

“Karen is a transformational executive who brings a wealth of experience that very few people in the entertainment industry can claim.  The value she brings to our company, our growth plans, and our Board of Directors is immense,” says Andy Heyward, chairman and chief executive officer, Genius Brands. “Karen has worked on countless tentpole films and hit television shows and driven billions of dollars of business steering the consumer products division of Warner Bros. into one of the most profitable in Hollywood. We have no doubt she will make an enormous contribution to grow our consumer products business, just as she did for Warner Bros. many renowned brands, and we are honored to welcome her to our team.”

During her career at Warner Bros., McTier worked closely with Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network on new content development relevant to merchandising, including “Power Puff Girls,” “Teen Titans,” “Justice League” and numerous DC Comics’ animated series. She also led the global team that set a new standard for quality in immersive environments, working with Universal Parks and Resorts to create one-of-a-kind experiences for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” in Orlando, Osaka and Hollywood. 

McTier joins Genius Brands’ Board of Directors, including Margaret Loesch, former Fox Kids Network Worldwide president; Gray Davis, former Governor of California; Anthony Thomopoulos, former president, ABC Entertainment and respected entertainment industry veteran; Lynne Segall, former publisher and senior vice president of The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard; Clark Hallren, former managing director of JP Morgan Entertainment Group; Michael Klein, former managing director of Bear Stearns Entertainment Group, and Genius Brands’ chairman & chief executive officer Andy Heyward.