Licensing Excellence
Team
Honors a team or leader behind the development, growth, or transformation of a successful brand franchise within consumer products, toys, licensing or entertainment.
BBC Studios' Consumer Products Team, led by Suzy Lee Raia
BBC Studios
EVP Global Consumer Products
Team Members:
Dion Vlachos, SVP Consumer Products
Katie Buckley, VP Retail Strategy and Development for Consumer Products, North America
Murilo Hinojosa, VP, Consumer Products & Commercial Partnerships - EMEA & LatAm
Julie Kekwick, Head of Licensing Hardlines
Paulina Abrams, Sr. Director, Licensing
Kirsten Fallon, Sr. Director, Retail Development, North America
Katie Scalere, Sr. Director, Product Development
Kealan Casey, Director, Brand Marketing, North America
Francesca Flanagan, Sr. Manager, Brand Marketing, North America
Facing consumer spending and competitive challenges, BBC Studios’ Consumer Products team scaled Bluey from a hit series into a world‑class licensing program while safeguarding brand integrity. The team executed strategic launches including award‑winning toys and games with Moose Toys; Bluey’s inaugural LEGO® and LEGO DUPLO® sets; first Squishmallows (Jazwares); first Little Tikes range; and TOTY Award finalists VTech and Crayola. These efforts drove industry recognition, back‑to‑back TOTY License of the Year Awards and first‑ever TOTY win for a Bluey toy from Moose Toys; coinciding with Bluey ranking as Nielsen’s #1 most‑streamed U.S. title and Circana’s #1 Preschool Toys property.
The CrunchLabs Licensing Team, led by Rachele Harmuth
CrunchLabs
Chief Product Officer
Team Members:
Rishita Patel, Chief Business Officer
Danielle Gleason, Director of Product Design Engineering
Ora DiLeonardo, Sr. Licensing Manager
The team successfully transformed CrunchLabs from a YouTuber-led D2C brand into a global retail and licensing powerhouse. This shift was anchored by a category-defining toy and game partnership with Moose, bringing Mark Rober’s storytelling and over-the-top engineering creativity into retail-ready products. They also expanded the IP through an integrated publishing program with Scholastic and launched experiential CrunchLabs Camps with iD Tech, reaching 70 camps for summer 2026. By prioritizing “wildly engaging” over traditional education, they turned STEM into a destination of excitement and curiosity, driving stronger demand, broader relevance and meaningful learning opportunities for more children.
The Crunchyroll Global Consumer Products Team, led by Anna Songco Adamian
Crunchyroll
VP, Global Consumer Products
Team Members:
Jenny Smith, Director, Product Development (Dallas)
Jill Hilton, Director, Licensing
John Leonhardt, Sr. Director, Consumer Products
Raphael Guimaraes, Director, LATAM & APAC Licensing
Waell Oueslati, Director, EMEA Licensing
Anna has led her team in securing high-impact collaborations for top anime IP across sports, gaming, and live experiences, including:My Hero Academia x NBA x Hyperfly – a multi-year NBALAB partnership driving global retail through anime-inspired NBA apparel collections.Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle x LA Dodgers & Texas Rangers – large-scale MLB stadium takeovers tied to the record-breaking film release, and the highest-grossing anime film globally and a Golden Globe–nominated feature.Chainsaw Man x Halloween Horror Nights – a headline immersive partnership with Universal Studios, bringing the franchise to life through major theme park attractions.
Dr. Seuss Global Licensing Team, led by Ellie Terveen
Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Chief Operating Officer
Team Members:
Jimeka Broussard, Sr. Director of Global Licensing and Sales
Fernanda Garcia, Manager Licensing and Sales
Ashley Buhain, Manager Licensing and Sales
Ashley Irvine, Sr. Manager Licensing and Sales
Georgia Bennett, Licensing Coordinator
Jamie Burke, Sr. Licensing Manager
Renee King, Licensing Manager
Daniella Salgado, Licensing Coordinator
The Dr. Seuss Enterprises Global Licensing team demonstrated leadership and innovation by translating Dr. Seuss' classic stories into culturally relevant moments across categories. Highlights include a three‑star Walmart holiday program that delivered an integrated in‑store‑to‑online campaign and immersive consumer experience. Grinch Grüns marked Dr. Seuss’s first vitamin partnership, with a direct‑to‑consumer launch that exceeded expectations and opened the door to future retail expansion. Limited‑edition collaborations with Van Leeuwen (“Cat in the Hat” flavors) and SPAM’s Green Eggs and Ham showcase bold creativity, keeping Dr. Seuss Enterprises' storytelling fresh, playful, and enduring.
The Licensing International Team, led by Maura Regan
Licensing International
President & CEO
Maura Regan is nothing short of a legend in Licensing. Her qualifications include 36 years of experience in licensing, active President of Licensing International (The largest licensing trade organization in the world), and continues to travel the globe meeting, leading, and inspiring everyone she meets. Maura’s most impressive accomplishment is how she has transformed the opportunity of being the President of LI into a soapbox to champion causes such as brand protection, diversity, and education. It is because of her passion and excellence, licensing professionals have a bar to shoot for.
Universal Products & Experiences Toy Team
Universal Products & Experiences
Team Members:
Angela Innis, Sr. Manager Category
Jessica Nubel Milton, Sr. Manager Category
Marysol “Marty” Garcia-Franke, Sr. Manager Category
Universal Products & Experiences’ Toys team drove strategic growth by securing best‑in‑class partnerships and executing with speed and creativity across categories and brands. The team launched the first preschool film product line for Gabby’s Dollhouse, surpassing 3.4 million dollhouses sold; delivered story‑driven products supporting the How to Train Your Dragon live‑action release; and brought a complete Jurassic World Rebirth line to market on an accelerated timeline. Breakthrough interactive items, including The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Hatching Yoshi, showcased innovation. This partnership‑led strategy produced Toy of the Year wins for Jaws and Jurassic, driving measurable growth.
ZURU Toys Licensing Team, led by Aneisha Vieira
ZURU
Head of Licensing and Partnerships
Team Members:
Gavin Correia, Licensing Manager
Peyton Walker, Licensing Manager
Joseph Fell, Licensing Executive
Leah Whitehead, Licensing Executive
Shuxin Chen, Licensing Coordinator
Despite being a team of just six, ZURU's Licensing team has transformed licensing into a strategic growth engine across the business. Over the past 24 months, the team has secured and managed more than 70 licensing agreements across major global partners including Disney, Universal, Paramount, Warner Brothers, FIFA, NBA, NFL and Netflix (to name a few).
The team has also pioneered entirely new licensed product categories, including Mini Brands Vinyl and Fill The Fridge, navigating complex approval structures while bringing innovative products to market at speed.
Through constant pivots, compressed timelines and evolving licensor requirements, the team has consistently delivered high-quality launches while strengthening long-term partner relationships.
