A host of industry experts will be taking to the stage at Brand Licensing Europe, with the full agenda now revealed for three-day event.
This year’s expert speakers hail from an array of licensing disciplines and categories as well as wider business, with representatives from Xbox, Crafters Companion, Primark, MoMA, The Met, STUDIOCANAL, The LEGO Group, The Walt Disney Company, Jazwares, Sanderson Design, Paramount UK and more.
Visitors and exhibitors to BLE now have all the information they need to fully plan their itineraries with three weeks still to go. The event runs from 24-26 September at London’s ExCeL.
“This year’s programme includes a free, inclusive three-day conference programme, valuable networking opportunities and lots of fun ‘not-to-be missed’ events – all great complements to the thousands of pre-planned and spontaneous, business critical meetings taking place on the show floor,” commented Ella Haynes, event director for BLE. “We are now less than three weeks until show time – over 2,220 meetings have already been arranged online between brands, retailers and manufacturers, so time is ticking, and I urge everyone to make the most of the BLE online Event Planner to find the right brands, people and businesses to book meetings with, and get those schedules filled to avoid disappointment.”
Newly announced for Wednesday 25 September:
1145-1215: The art of museum licensing
Learn about the current museum and heritage licensing landscape, examine case studies of recent success stories, and gain key insights into the trends driving consumer behaviour into 2025 and beyond.
Speakers: Josh Romm, head of global licensing & partnerships, The Met; Robin Sayetta, head of business development, MoMA; Maxine Lister, head of licensing, Natural History Museum; and Marijn Veraart, head of global partnerships & licensing, Van Gogh Museum.
Moderator: Esther Jolley, director – brand extension, Stobbs.
1400-1430: Turning a heritage brand into a global phenomenon
Join STUDIOCANAL as it unveils its ambitious global vision for the Paddington IP. This exclusive session will explore the ongoing journey of Paddington from a classic character to a worldwide cultural phenomenon ahead of the highly anticipated November release of the third blockbuster film Paddington in Peru.
Speakers: Françoise Guyonnet, EVP kids brands at STUDIOCANAL & ceo, Copyrights; Sissel Henno, head of global sales licensing & retail
1500-1530: Doing licensing in Europe. The distinct characteristics of the industry on the European mainland
A comparative analysis of players in the licensing industry chain, focusing on the distinctive features, attributes and prospects for business growth in the market from the standpoint of European companies.
Speakers: Fabienne Gilles, CCO consumer products and family entertainment, Peyo Company, Belgium; David Pérez Balaguer, founder, Mad House, Spain; Christopher Becker, director licensing & partnerships, Tonies, Germany
Moderator: Cristina Angelucci, editor-in-chief, Licensing Magazine.
1515-1545: Futureproof Your brand: gaming’s role in shaping tomorrow’s IP landscape
Explore how technology and distribution platforms are reshaping IP choices.
Speaker: Adam Woodgate, VP Research Solutions, The Insights Family.
1600-1645: Mapping a sustainable pathway: how the industry is adapting to new demands
Speakers: David Boyne, managing director, Bravado; Jeremy Orriss, director of licensing, Difuzed; Michelle Papayannakos, sustainability director, Paramount UK; Jakob Max Hamann, senior manager, business development and sustainability governance, The LEGO Group; and Anna Halford, associate principal council, The Walt Disney Company.
Moderator: Helena Mansell-Stopher, ceo, Products of Change.
Newly announced for Thursday 26 September:
1000-1030:Unlocking careers in licensing: advice and opportunities
Speakers: Olivia Wiggett, licensing manager, Jazwares; Emily Farrugia, head of product development, WildBrain CPLG; and Corinne Duckworth, commercial executive, Dreamtex.
Moderator: Steve Manners, head of global marketing and UK managing director, Licensing International.
1200-1230: Is resilience key to navigating industry change?
Join us at ‘The Day of Purpose’ for a powerful session exploring the critical role of resilience in the licensing industry.
Host: Helen Lynch, retail brand licensing consultant & coach
Speakers: Richard Pink, md at Pink Key Licensing; Will Stewart, founder and ceo at Point.1888 and True Purpose Enterprises; and Gabrielle Simms, director of partnerships and licensing at Sanderson Design Group.
Brand Licensing Europe takes place 24-26 September 2024 at ExCeL, London and visitor registration is now open.
