Chief brand officer to take on new consulting role.

DreamWorks Animation's chief global brand officer Michael Francis will step down from his full-time duties at the company in December and transition to a consulting role.

Jim Fielding, the company's head of global consumer products, will oversee DreamWorks' licensing and franchise management businesses going forward, reporting directly to DWA president Ann Daly.

Since 2013, Francis has overseen the company’s branding, licensing, consumer products and franchise management efforts. Francis and his team were featured in on June 2013 cover of License! Global, in the profile "New Team, New Dream."

“We are grateful to Michael for his tireless work over the past three years and hope to continue benefitting from his counsel as we continue to build and leverage our brand within each of our business lines," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive officer, and Daly in a joint statement. "Michael built a strong internal organization, led by Jim Fielding and others, that will enable us to drive growth in these keys areas in the future. We wish Michael all the best in what will be an exciting new chapter in his career.”

Going forward Francis plans to work closely with DWA on its ongoing efforts to enhance the value of DreamWorks Animation as a global family entertainment brand. He will also serve as a board member for AwesomenessTV, and recently also joined the board of Xcel Brands.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Jeffrey, Ann and the entire team at DreamWorks Animation for entrusting me with one of the world’s most iconic brands," says Francis. "I’ve determined that this is the right move for me both personally and professionally. I’m excited to resume my own business while also planning to continue working with the talented DWA team to help ensure the ascendancy of the brand.”