Senior Director, CPG Licensing & Retail Europe

Full Time Job
Senior Director, CPG Licensing & Retail Europe

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:
• Determine and manage the strategic direction and growth opportunities for the Consumer Products business across Europe, excluding UK and excluding Middle East
• Lead, manage and develop each region/country with a focus across Germany, Spain, France & Italy
• Interact with key retailers to increase sell-in for all licensed products. Increase retail distribution through multiple channels, in both Brick & Mortar and E-commerce.
• Oversee, manage and support existing licensing agents and key global licensees with European offices such as Mattel, Take Two (2K), Topps, and local Home Entertainment. Account management experience for master licensees (toys, games, etc.) required.
• Manage, nurture, and continuously develop positive relationships with leading local licensees, with a focus on softlines
• Regularly pitch and present to mass, specialty, department store, and entertainment retail buyers with the aim to secure cross-category promotions round key periods during the WWE all year-round calendar
• Support new and existing licensees throughout the end to end process including deal memo, contract, partner commercial questions, product development and joint retail sell in
• Lead CPG partner live event regionalized ticket requests, in-market talent appearance requests, retail promotion and promotional licensing opportunities
• Coordinate, set up and manage licensee workshops/summits and newsletters on a minimum bi-yearly basis
• Collaborate with regional team members, other WWE stakeholders, and external partners to develop and manage integrated, multi-platform marketing, promotional, and event plans to support licensed product sales
• Work closely with regional teams bringing together event activity plans, cross line of business promotional information, and sharing this with WWE partners
• Help troubleshoot to ensure our brand extension program is managed effectively and efficiently
• Help coordinate and collect quarterly royalty statements, sales and forecast statements as needed for budget reconciliations
• Assist and locally manage annual budget process for revenues, marketing, and T&E expenses
• Research and compile reports, manage and maintain files, including deal memos, contracts, best practice activations etc.
• Monitor and report cultural and market trends
• Stay up to date on WWE programs, storylines, products, and businesses

Qualifications & Requirements
• Minimum 8 years of related Licensing experience including brand management with a sound understanding of brand values (experience with boys brands preferred including toy, apparel, interactive games, home entertainment and digital/E-commerce)
• Fluent in English and German; multilingual highly desirable (Spanish, French), knowledge of foreign language(s) essential
• Work experience with a Top 5 global licensor/licensing agency a plus
• Knowledge of the German, Spanish, French and Italian retailer landscape along with existing and established relationships preferred with key buyers
• Proficient technical skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and verbal and written communication skills including the ability to present to senior level management
• Proven sales ability, including negotiation and relationship-building skills
• Proactive, self-motivated team player with good time management skills and ability to multitask while still paying attention to important details
• Eager to learn with the desire to progress and stay up-to-date on industry news, best practices, and current affairs
• Creative flair both in generating ideas and execution
• Willing and able to travel approximately 30% of the time in key territories of focus
• A degree or equivalent would be desirable but not essential

Attributes & Knowledge
• Willingness to be out in the marketplace regularly with retailers, licensees, etc. selling and creating business opportunities even in the face of challenges
• Skilled at multi-tasking, prioritizing and thriving in a fast-paced matrix environment
• Interacting with and presenting to senior executives as well as ability to work with senior leaders
• Ability to adjust and adapt to varying changes in market
• Proven negotiation skills
• Proven sales ability
• Independent thinker and creator
• Team Player
• Good attention to detail
• Good time management
• Strong contacts within the European licensing community
• Experience of boys brands would be helpful
• A sound understanding of brand values

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