Saturday, April 25, 2020

ViacomCBS Consumer Products Unveils New Geographic Team Structure; Appoints Simon Leslie as VP, Southern Europe and MENA

Simon Leslie on board as vp Southern Europe and MENA as team structured into three geographic territories.


ViacomCBS Consumer Products (VCP) has structured its EMEA team into three geographic territories – UK, Ireland and Israel; Northern and Eastern Europe; and Southern Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

To this end, Simon Leslie (pictured) has been named as Vice President (VP) consumer products for Southern Europe and MENA.

In his new position, Leslie will be responsible for licensing revenues and managing teams across France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East and Africa, which make up a subsection of the newly structured VCP team for EMEAA. His remit will include overseeing the retail sales and marketing division across the region and managing global partnership activity locally with the heads of markets, regions and categories.

Splitting his time between ViacomCBS Networks International's (VCNI) London and Madrid offices, Leslie will dual report to Mark Kingston, Senior Vice President (SVP) of international licensing of VCP, and Thomas Goller, Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ViacomCBS Networks International Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA).

Simon joins ViacomCBS Consumer Products with over 20 years experience in consumer products across Europe and South America in both emerging and mature markets. Most recently, he served as Managing Director (MD) at Hasbro Italy, responsible for leading seven functions – consumer products, sales, marketing, trade marketing, finance, human resources and IT. Prior to that, he was managing director at Hasbro Chile, Latin America’s most successful market, developing global strategic plans and spearheading all commercial functions, human resources, finance and operations. He also built Hasbro’s core brand market presence at Hasbro Portugal, after moving up the ranks at Hasbro UK. Previously, he also held positions with Crayola and Radica Games.

Kingston said: “Simon has comprehensive knowledge of consumer products and the ability to adapt global strategies to local market needs and opportunities, which will help us grow our international presence and support our partners in Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Simon is a stellar addition to the team responsible for these important territories.”

Additionally, Felix Ruoff, vice president, Northern and Eastern Europe, will manage the licensing business and teams across Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Nordics, Poland, Central Eastern Europe and Russia. Based in Germany, Ruoff will also report to Kingston and Goller. Venetia Davie, a vice president of VCP, will continue to lead VCP’s U.K., Ireland & Israel business, managing the London-based team and reporting to Kingston.

These changes are the latest in a raft of reorganizations for the newly minted ViacomCBS. Earlier this year, Jules Borkent was promoted to EVP of VCNI kids & family. Additionally, Stefanie Schwartz was named EVP and GM of Viacom Digital Studios.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Launches Noggin in 38 New Markets via Apple TV, More Than Doubles Global Footprint!

Sources: World Screen, Licensing Source, License Global, aNb Media, TNP.MEDIA, Toy World Magazine, Kidscreen.
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