Licensing • Business Development • Producer • IP Development • Licensing Executive. Over 18+ years of experience in the entertainment and brand licensing industry working with the largest brands on the planet. • Brand Management. Developed licensing and marketing strategies to leverage the equity of existing classic brands and emerging brands into successful consumer products programs. • Intellectual Property Developer & Storyteller. 150+ episodes of animated programming for Cartoon Network and 4Kids TV. Story and character development for Hasbro's classic and new brand initiatives including TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, DUEL MASTERS, ACTION MAN, HEROSCAPE and more. LIGHTSTORM ENTERTAINMENT, Los Angeles, CA (November 2016 – Present) • Vice President; Content and Strategy & Franchise Development — Responsible for leading franchise effort in regards to all ancillary story generation, including mapping and tracking newly-developed storylines, editing & approvals of all licensed material which contains Avatar story-world information and ensuring consistency of the Avatar story canon over the life of the franchise. 20TH CENTURY FOX CONSUMER PRODUCTS, Los Angeles, CA (2012 – 2016) • Director of Licensing, Global Publishing & Brand Management — Directly responsible for publishing licensing for all categories (adult, children, novelty, etc.) across all 20th Century Fox verticals (Film, TV, Online, Network) for the world. Strategic alignment against all other licensed categories and intellectual properties with fiscal responsibility of $40MM in retail global sales. • Directly liaised with best in class licensees including Random House, Penguin-Putnam and HarperCollins in addition to Film / TV executives to create original content for Fox IP such as Avatar, Modern Family, Planet of the Apes, Family Guy, Alien, Predator and Prometheus. • Managed hardline categories including global collectibles (Sideshow Collectibles, Gentle Giant, Hot Toys, NECA), arcade cabinet and pinball (Stern Pinball), fine art & gallery (ACME Archives) and strategic brand collaboration relationship (Sanrio, tokidoki). • Managed food & beverage category including strategic relationships with Kellogg’s, Golden West Foods LA, Rogue Ale and directly responsible for aligning with North American 20th Century Fox theatrical promotions programs across all retail. • Managed domestic retail business development relationships across specialty and book trade accounts including Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million. • Created, planned and executed Alien Day - a worldwide retail, sales and marketing activation celebrating the Alien franchise Alien Day generated over 625MM media impressions and created dales of licensed merchandise across the world with dedicated retail activities in North America, the UK and Japan. Other activations included worldwide screenings, new product launches, PR and press and release of the Reebok Alien Stomper sneakers. CAPCOM ENTERTAINMENT, INC. San Mateo, CA (Oct. 2009 – Present) • Director of Licensing— Oversee global (outside of Japan/Asia) licensing sales for all Capcom properties/brands in excess of over $40 million annual revenues. Responsible for Pan-Western P&L and management of entire consumer products staff. Research, prospect and sign best in class consumer products partners. Develop and implement strategic sales plans for all new, and existing client consumer product programs. Establish annual business plans, budgets, market strategies, retail promotions, exclusive in-store programs and cross-promotions with licensees for all properties represented. GAMER GRAFFIX WORLDWIDE, LLC, Providence, RI (2007-2009) • Director of Licensing— Directly manage, plan and execute the licensing strategies for the largest consumer electronic skin and home décor company in North America. Responsible for the evaluation and purchase of current and cutting edge licenses, all product development for multiple SKUS and daily management of licensee-to-licensor relationships. Current licenses include: Hannah Montana, High School Musical franchise, Batman franchise, Halo, Nintendo franchise, Pokemon and Hello Kitty • Manage staff of three in-house designers as head of product development for all licensed SKUS. Responsible for scheduling work load, retail SKU planning, pre-production timelines, submissions and approvals and final production sign off on all retail items and packaging. HASBRO ENTERTAINMENT, Pawtucket, RI (2005-2007) • Producer—Worked directly with post-production studios, sound design studios, animation houses and voice talent agencies to create and manage the day-to-day operations of delivering children’s entertainment programming to on-line content distribution partners and on-air networks such as Cartoon Network, Jetix and 4Kids Entertainment. • Worked with Hasbro internal web design, programming and animation staff and external freelance creative talent to develop new and re-launch existing Hasbro Intellectual Property such as JEM and the HOLOGRAMS, BATTLE BEASTS, G.I. JOE & TRANSFORMERS. Responsibilities included the generation and management of the story/animation bible, creative look and tone and overall property positioning. HASBRO CONSUMER PRODUCTS, Pawtucket, RI (2002-2005) • Licensing Manager—Directly manage Hasbro’s merchandise licensing and marketing for the Publishing, Social Expressions, Stationary and Collectibles categories across the US & Canada with budget responsibility for revenue base in excess of US$1MM and retail sales of close to $25 Million. • Responsible for strategic planning and growth of Hasbro’s licensed consumer products in the Collectibles, Publishing, Stationary and Social Expressions markets, including brand management, category and licensee base development, deal negotiation, product development, creative direction and approvals, promotions and cross marketing, sourcing, and retail business development. • Manage all aspects of creative, editorial and content-driven licensed publishing utilizing Hasbro intellectual property. Currently working to develop, strategize and oversee the content for brands such as The Transformers, G.I. Joe, Tonka, My Little Pony, Clue, Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland with licensees such as Reader’s Digest Children’s Publishing, Dorling Kindersley, Scholastic Children’s Publishing, Devil’s Due Publishing, Dreamwave Productions, Harper Collins Children’s Books, Fleer Trading Cards and iBooks. 4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT, INC., New York, NY (2000-2002) • Marketing Manager and Head Sales Associate—Managed all aspects of the administration, creative direction and business relations for the re-launch of the all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand. Day-to-day interaction between master toy licensee Playmates Toys, Mirage Licensing, Inc. and 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. to create the brand strategy and licensed goods roll-out plans in conjunction with the all-new TMNT multi-year broadcast agreement on the Fox Network. Integral in screening, signing on and managing top-tier licensees such as Playmates Toys, Disguise, Basic Fun, Kraft, Mad Engine T-Shirts, Changes and others for the revamped TMNT program. Instrumental in dealing with SSA Public Relations, Rotter-Kantor Public Relations and various retailers such as Toys R Us, Target and Wal-Mart to create exciting TMNT-driven promotions and exciting licensing destinations in coordination with the FoxBox TV block. • Marketing Manager—Dealt with the day-to-day marketing, research and development, promotional planning and licensing responsibilities for the Pokémon brand. Daily licensor liaison interaction with companies such as General Mills, Nestle, Hasbro, Mattel, Jakks Pacific, Bandai America, Topps Trading Cards, Kraft Foods and Kellogg’s and major retailers like Toys R Us and K-Mart to insure the longevity, and overall success of the above listed brand. THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC., New York, NY (1997-2000) • Managing Editor, Design Supervisor, Writer/Co-Writer, Photo Editor & Licensing Liaison for the officially licensed Pokémon Trading Card Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back and Pokémon The Movie 2000. • Managing Editor, Design Supervisor, Writer/Co-Writer, Photo Editor & Licensing Liaison for the officially licensed WCW Trading Card Series 1 and WCW Nitro Trading Cards. • Managing Editor, Design Supervisor, Writer/Co-Writer, Photo Editor & Licensing Liaison for the officially licensed *NSYNC Trading Card Series. • Managing Editor and contributing writer for the official Lucasfilm, Ltd. licensed The Best of Star Wars Magazine. • Associate Editor for the official Lucasfilm, Ltd. licensed Star Wars Galaxy Collector Magazine issues 1-8. • Associate Editor for the official Lucasfilm, Ltd. licensed Boba Fett Magazine. PRODUCTION CREDITS • Development Executive — The Mask of Santo (Oct 2007 – Jan 2008) Worked with Cartoon Network Latin America to re-develop the animated series ‘The Mask of Santo’. Responsible for the creation of new story direction, story bible, three-minute script and 3-minutes of full animation. • Producer — Transformers: Animated (Jan 2007 – Dec 2007) 26 Episodes – Cartoon Network • Producer — Various online and product content animation for brands such as HEROSCAPE, MOBIMALS and others (Aug 2006 – Dec 2007) • Producer — Action Man: X-Missions Vs. The Gangrene Code (July 2006) 60-minute, fully CGI animated direct to TV movie. • Associate Producer — Duel Masters Season 1.5 (Feb 2005 – Oct 2005) 26 episodes — Cartoon Network • Associate Producer — Duel Masters Season 2.0 (Oct 2005 – Jan 2006) 13 Episodes – Cartoon Network • Associate Producer — Transformers Cybertron (Aug 2005 – April 2006) 52 Episodes – Cartoon Network • Associate Producer — G.I. Joe Sigma Six (Oct 2005 – Jan 2006) 26 Episodes – 4Kids TV ILLUSTRATION, EXHIBITION & DESIGN CREDITS (1997-Present) Contributing illustrator (2007) – Super 7 Magazine; CA Contributing exhibitor (2006) – Hand-made, articulated vinyl Living Dead Doll figure for “Living Dead Doll Halloween” design exhibition; New York, NY. Contributing exhibitor (2006) – Hand-made, articulated vinyl QEE figure for “Subcultures” design exhibition; New Haven, CT. Contributing exhibitor (2005) – Hand-made, articulated action figure for “FUNNY CLUB SHOW” design exhibition; Chicago, Los Angeles and Taipei Logo & Stationary design (2005) – Showpiece Realtors; Providence, RI Logo design (2002) – Serious Exercise Exchange; Fitness program and clothing line, NY Logo designs (2001) – BMS Industries; Maplewood, NJ Contributing illustrator (2001) – G-Fan Magazine; Manitoba, Canada Contributing exhibitor (1999) – Bulkart.com; Online art gallery, NJ Contributing exhibitor (1998) – “The Bound Image” exhibition; SVA gallery, NY Contributing columnist/artist (1998) – Visual Opinion Magazine, NY Contributing colorist (1997) – Star Wars Galaxy Collector Magazine, NY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CREDITS (1997-Present) Action figure development (2007) – Hasbro Marvel Legends 6” super-articulated figures Action figure paint master (2004) – Deco design for Hasbro Transformers “Swerve” action figure Action figure paint master (2004) – Deco design for Hasbro Transformers “King Atlas” action figure Action figure paint master (2003) – Deco design for Hasbro Transformers “Menasor” action figure WRITING CREDITS (1997-Present) Contributing Writer – Transformers: Armada trading cards Series 1, Fleer Trading Cards; 2003 Writer and Editor – The Official Pokémon Handbook #3, Scholastic Books; 2001 Contributing Quarterly Column - “Collecting Xena” – Xena: Warrior Princess Magazine, Topps Publishing; 1998 Contributing Columnist - Star Wars Galaxy Magazine, Star Wars Galaxy Collector Magazine and the Boba Fett Magazine, Topps Publishing; 1998-2000 Writer & Co-Writer- Pokémon trading cards Series 1, 2, 3, Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back and Pokémon the Movie 2000 trading cards, Topps Trading Cards; 1998-2000 COMPUTER SKILLS Proficient on both Macintosh Classic - Modern (OS9 – 10.4) and IBM platforms. Software knowledge includes: Quark Xpress, Adobe Photoshop (Classic and CS), Adobe Illustrator (Classic & CS), Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Entourage. EDUCATION The School of Visual Arts, New York, NY Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, May 1998 References/Writing Samples/Reel Furnished Upon Request
All content ©2017 Joshua Izzo
All characters and related materials are trademark, copyright, and/or registered trademarks of their respective license holders and/or owners