Former Disney licensing exec Vincent Marchica is onboard as vp of creative, it was announced by Nancy Bassett, svp for DICs worldwide consumer products. Kathy DeGennero has been appointed senior designer and Heather Fuscellero will serve as director of retail.
Additionally, DIC has promoted Cindy Davis from director to vp of domestic licensing and Ryan Gagerman to exec director of international licensing.
Marchica, a 20-year industry veteran, is responsible for overseeing the creative development and execution of the companys licensed merchandise programs. He served for 10 years at Disney Consumer Products and is an experienced veteran in the toy industry.
DeGennero will manage the creative design and development for the soft-line categories. Previously, DeGennero served for seven years at Disney as a character art supervisor. She also was the sr artist/character art manager for H.H. Cutler, a childrens apparel company.
With 14+ years of experience in licensing and marketing, Davis will continue to play an integral role in the development of branding, licensing and merchandising strategies for all properties, expanding sales volume and identifying new opportunities for growth across all product categories. Davis also served as director of consumer products at Saban Entertainment and director of marketing and licensing at Mello Smello.
Reporting to Davis, Fuscerelllo is responsible for managing DICs ongoing relationships with retailers and will work closely with them to broaden DIC-licensed merchandise programs and to initiate tent-pole promotions. Fuscellaro was manager of business development and licensing at Vivendi Universal Games/Universal Interactive, where she was responsible for negotiating in-bound and out-bound licensing opportunities for all interactive product.
Gagerman will maintain responsibilities for managing master toy and publishing licensees and will assume the role of managing DICs international licensing programs throughout Europe, Latin America, Canada and Asia. He joined DIC in 1995 as coordinator, responsible for handling the companys master toy licensees and publishing opportunities. He began his career at Applause Inc.
DIC Consumer Products is connected to such properties as STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, MADELEINE and KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC. DIC projects that STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE will generate more than $175 million dollars in first-year sales, and plans are in the works to launch her internationally. In addition, DIC recently announced a collaboration with Stan Lees POW! Entertainment to create a brand new slate of animated properties under the Stan Lee Universe banner. DIC Consumer Products is researching potential partners for this initiative.
