Nickelodeon Consumer Products President Pam Kaufman to Keynote BLE

Pam Kaufman, president of global consumer products at Viacom/Nickelodeon, will take part in a fireside chat with License Global content director Amanda Cioletti during the opening day keynote at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe.

National Geographic, Moomin, Richard Pink, Sanrio and LIMA are also confirmed to speak at the BLE 2018 seminar program.

Kaufman will share her insights into the changing retail landscape and will discuss why the newly-formed, globally-aligned Viacom/Nickelodeon Consumer Products positions the organization for success and where consumer products fit into Viacom’s broader strategy.

“Brand Licensing Europe is one of the industry’s premier events, and I am honored to be part of this year’s program,” says Kaufman. “2018 was a pivotal year in retail and also a year of big changes at Viacom/Nickelodeon Consumer Products, as we became one globally unified team earlier this year. At VNCP, we have been meeting the changing retail landscape head-on, reinventing everything from the content and products we make, to how we market and to whom.”

BLE organizers have unveiled the full seminar program online, which features more than 50 licensing experts delivering 30 sessions across the Brands & Lifestyle Theatre and Licensing Academy. This year’s content covers everything from the latest innovations in food and beverage licensing to gaming, heritage, preschool, fashion, sustainability and more. Seminars can be accessed at www.BrandLicensing.eu/Agenda.

“In the Brands & Lifestyle Theatre, National Geographic’s Helena Mansell-Stopher will present a thought-provoking session on ethical licensing; Sanrio will discuss the creation of Little Miss Inventor and how it has capitalized successfully on the battle to get girls involved in STEM subjects; Richard Pink has a great session on driving value from promotional licensing, plus, we’ll have three food and beverage sessions with great case studies from licensees and licensors, including Chupa Chups,” says Anna Knight, brand director, BLE.

“Meanwhile in the Licensing Academy, in addition to Pam’s keynote, LIMA UK managing director Kelvyn Gardner is planning a fantastic global licensing session featuring the LIMA Chapter Heads; the Moomin team will tell us all about the new ‘Moominvalley’ animation and Billy Langsworthy from Mojo Nation is back with a Playing with Brands panel and a fireside chat with Tech Will Save Us. We also have our keynote on the IOC’s new licensing strategy,” says Knight. “I would strongly advise visitors to arrive early–these sessions are going to be popular and busy.”

 “Our session will show how we are bringing a 130-year-old brand with a rich scientific history to life through consumer products, with a key focus on driving sustainable, biodegradable materials and products which help protect the future of the planet,” says Helena Mansell-Stopher, director, U.K. licensing, National Geographic.

Marika Makaroff, creative director and executive producer, Gutsy Animations, and Sophia Jansson, creative director, Moomin Characters, will present “The Moominvalley Animation Series–creating a brand-new take on a beloved heritage brand” in the Licensing Academy at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

"In our seminar, we’ll take BLE visitors on tour behind the scenes of the upcoming animated family TV drama ‘Moominvalley,’ which will premiere worldwide in 2019,” says Makaroff and Jansson via a joint statement. “We’ll tell them how Gutsy Animations is creating a new take on the beloved Moomins created by Tove Jansson, using brand-new innovative techniques in 3-D CGI and working with the best talent in the entertainment industry. We’ll share what we’ve learned about how to create a new visual style and storylines that work for artistic and merchandise purposes while staying true to the originals loved by millions of dedicated fans all around the world.”

BLE’s educational content is free to all visitors, who can view the program at https://www.brandlicensing.eu/agenda and register for a free pass at https://bit.ly/2yI6GgN.

BLE is the definitive event for the licensing industry in Europe, taking place Oct. 9-11 at Olympia London.