Ever wondered how some of the best-known execs in the business found themselves working in licensing? Or what they’d be doing if they weren’t? Well, The Source did, so we decided to delve a bit deeper into their licensing lives, beginning with FCP’s Sandra Vauthier-Cellier.
Sandra Vauthier-Cellier,
Senior vice president EMEA, Fox Consumer Products
My route into licensing went something like this …
I discovered the licensing sector by accident. At the time I was heading up marketing and communications at E. Leclerc’s central buying office in France. I was looking for a role in London and found an advertisement in Marketing Week magazine for a Category Manager, Europe for Coca Cola. During my first interview I understood that the role was in fact to work for The Beanstalk Group which was managing the consumer products business for The Coca Cola Company brand portfolio. It was at this point when I found out about the licensing industry and its secrets.
How many years in the industry?
Nearly 16 years.
When I was growing up, I had no idea licensing was an industry so I wanted to be …
Many things depending on my age! One thing I loved and wanted to be was a detective. I was crazy about a series of books called Bobby – La – Science (Encyclopaedia Brown) from the 1960s by the New York writer Donald Sobol.
The deal I am most proud of is …
Securing two DTRs supported by a full cross promotion marketing and communications campaign with Auchan and Alcampo for the Mary-Kate and Ashley brand. This was about 12 years ago and DTRs at the time were rare. This deal was a first in the retail industry in France and Spain and was for more than 150 SKUS across 24 categories.
My most interesting experience in licensing has been …
From figuring out if I could rent a helicopter from Charles De Gaulle airport to land onto Carrefour headquarters building, to playing Pokémon trading card game with a five year old without knowing the rules, to learning about the agility of dogs and which one to have at BLE!
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is …
Always listen to your gut feeling.
If I wasn’t in licensing, I would be …
Running my own boutique hotel in Provence and promoting my own in-house brand of health and beauty products.
Who do you admire most in the industry?
Without a doubt, Marjorie-Jacqueline ‘Marge’ Simpson.
In a film of your life, which licensed character would play you?
In my personal life, my husband would say Little Miss Bossy, but I see myself more as Little Miss Curious.
If I could change anything about the industry, it would be …
Nothing. The industry has become stronger and more professional over the years and valued by other sectors.
One thing about me that no one knows is …
I have some Polish ancestry – my great grandmother from my mother’s side.
