Gina Briggs, who previously held a variety of marketing and strategy roles at Nickelodeon, has joined HiT (formally Henson International Television) as senior global brand manager for the popular CG-animated preschool series "Mike the Knight", which currently airs on Nick and Nick Jr. in the United States.
Gina Briggs will work out of the company's New York office and will report to Shari Donnenfeld, Vice President, global brands, at Hit Entertainment:
Hit Entertainment unveils new-look global brand teamAlso, from Kidscreen:
High profile execs confirmed to look after brands including Thomas & Friends and Mike the Knight.
[Veteran execs appointed from Walt Disney Company and Nickelodeon. - ToyNews]
Hit Entertainment has appointed three high profile executives to spearhead its global brand and marketing efforts for its key properties.
Robin Gay has joined as global brand director for Thomas & Friends. He moves across from The Walt Disney Company EMEA, where he most recently ran the franchise business for Mickey Mouse & Friends, Winnie the Pooh, Disney Fairies and Disney Baby.
Meanwhile, Will Speer has been appointed global brand director for Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam. Speer also joins from The Walt Disney Company, where he held a variety of roles including Disney Stores (retail), Disney Channels and most recently franchise management.
Finally, Gina Briggs has joined Hit as senior global brand manager for Mike the Knight, having previously held a variety of marketing and strategy roles at Nickelodeon.
Gay and Speer will be based in the UK, while Briggs will work out of the New York office. All three will report to Shari Donnenfeld, VP global brands, Hit Entertainment.
"Assembling this new team reinforces Hit and Mattel's commitment to propel our brands to even greater levels of engagement with consumers and partners," said Donnenfeld.
TAGS: hit entertainment, thomas & friends, mike the knight, fireman sam, bob the builder
HIT unveils global brand team
In a move to strengthen its preschool brand management, Mattel’s HIT Entertainment has appointed three veteran execs, Robin Gay, Will Speer and Gina Briggs, to head up its global brand and marketing efforts for a number of HIT’s leading properties including Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam and Mike the Knight.
For the newly created positions, Gay and Speer will be UK-based, with Briggs based in New York City. All three will report directly to HIT’s VP of global brands Shari Donnenfeld.
Gay has come on board as the global brand director for Thomas & Friends. He most recently ran the franchise business for Mickey Mouse & Friends (including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), Winnie the Pooh, Disney Fairies (including Tinker Bell), and Disney Baby for The Walt Disney Company EMEA, as well as managing hit Disney Channel and Disney XD IP including Phineas & Ferb, Hannah Montana, and Wizards of Waverly Place.
Also making the move from Disney, Speer is now global brand director for Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam. He most recently handled franchise management for brands such as Jake and The Neverland Pirates, Doc McStuffins, Monsters University, and Phineas and Ferb.
Briggs rounds out the hires as senior global brand manager for Mike the Knight. She comes to HIT from Nickelodeon where she served in a number of marketing and brand strategy roles working on popular animated properties including SpongeBob, Fairly Odd Parents, and Robot and Monster.
The hires come as Mattel posted weaker-than-expected second quarter profits, but recent licensing growth for Thomas and Mike the Knight.
Tags: Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Gina Briggs, HIT Entertainment, Mattel, Mike the Knight, Robin Gay, Thomas & Friends, Will Speer