Studiocanal Announces Executive Lineup at Copyrights Group

The Copyrights Group, part of Studiocanal (a CANAL+ company), has announced the appointment of Sissel Henno to the new position of head, global sales, licensing and retail.

Sitting between the brand, the creative team and partners, Henno will manage the licensing and retail teams, leveraging Copyrights’ experience in kids’ and family properties. She will lead the commercial strategy for the division in crafting licensing and merchandising programs spanning the U.K. and EMEA, through to a global scale and will also oversee retail operations, including the Paddington store at Paddington Station in London.

An experienced licensing executive with more than 20 years in the industry, Henno has worked with licensors such as The Walt Disney Company and SEGA. During her time at Disney, she spearheaded the re-launch of “Star Wars” and worked across the toy business on brands such as Marvel, “Frozen” and “Toy Story.” Prior to this, she oversaw SEGA’s licensing program in Europe, establishing a new licensing division and building a new revenue stream around brands such as “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “Football Manager.” Most recently, she worked as a licensing consultant to licensees and licensors, supporting them with strategy, pitches and acquisition of new rights.

Former head, digital sales, Studiocanal, Paris-based Benoit Jaubert has been appointed vice president, sales, The Copyrights Group/Studiocanal. Reporting to Henno, Jaubert sells licensing and merchandising rights in France and oversees Copyrights agents in Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Jaubert, in collaboration with Valerie Rolandez-Barrios, licenses and partnerships manager, Studiocanal, covers the development of the Paddington franchise in France.

Along with long-term Copyrights executives, Polly Emery, senior vice president, brand and international sales, and Rachel Clarke, Studiocanal U.K. – licensing and retail, The Copyrights Group has now created a team of four senior executives to operate its merchandising and licensing business for major Studiocanal IPs such as Paddington among others.

“As Studiocanal continues to accelerate its growth in children’s IP through The Copyrights Group, we are delighted to have Sissel join us to lead our new stellar lineup of licensing and merchandising experts,” says Francoise Guyonnet, chief executive officer, Copyrights Group and executive vice president, kids’ brands, Studiocanal. “This new team will help us implement our plans to further consolidate the incredible strength of the Paddington brand, as well as securing new IPs and build our business both globally and locally.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the highly experienced Copyrights Group team and our network of 14 specialist agents around the world at this particularly significant and exciting time,” says Henno. “The imminent opening of the ‘Paddington London Experience’ and launch of the highly anticipated third movie, ‘Paddington in Peru,’ later this year are two exceptional opportunities for our company."