ViacomCBS Consumer Products Names New Exec

ViacomCBS Consumer Products has named Simon Leslie as vice president, consumer products for southern Europe, Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Leslie will dual report to Mark Kingston, senior vice president, international licensing of VCP and Thomas Goller, executive vice president and chief operating officer, ViacomCBS Networks International Europe, Middle East Africa and Asia (EMEAA). Leslie will split his time between London and Madrid offices.

In this role, Leslie will be responsible for licensing revenues and managing teams across France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East and Africa, which make up a subsection of the newly structured VCP team for EMEAA. He will oversee the retail sales and marketing division across the region and manage global partnership activity locally with the heads of markets, regions and categories.

“Simon has comprehensive knowledge of consumer products and the ability to adapt global strategies to local market needs and opportunities, which will help us grow our international presence and support our partners in Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa,” says Mark Kingston, senior vice president, international licensing, ViacomCBS Consumer Products. “Simon is a stellar addition to the team responsible for these important territories.”

Additionally, Felix Ruoff, vice president, Northern and Eastern Europe, will manage the licensing business and teams across Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Nordics, Poland, Central Eastern Europe and Russia. Based in Germany, Ruoff will also report to Kingston and Goller. Venetia Davie, a vice president of VCP, will continue to lead VCP’s U.K., Ireland & Israel business, managing the London-based team and reporting to Kingston.