Alan Fine has been appointed to the newly created position of evp/chief marketing officer of Marvel Characters Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marvel Ent., which owns and licenses Marvel's intellectual property library. Fine will be responsible for directing and coordinating Marvel's efforts to support and strengthen its brands.
Fine, who joined Marvel in 1996, will retain his current title of ceo of Marvel's publishing and toy divisions.
His new position reflects Marvel's renewed emphasis on further developing its brand name and marketing its vast library of characters across current and emerging platforms as Marvel Studios builds momentum on the production of its slate of self-produced and financed feature films based on some of its marqueeSuper Hero franchises. The first two films in the slate, IRON MAN andTHE INCREDIBLE HULK, are scheduled for release in summer 2008.
"Alan's extraordinary depth of experience in manufacturing, retailing, and the marketing of youth-based entertainment-driven consumer products, along with his knowledge of our company and our characters, makes him the ideal person for this new role," said John Turitzin, evp/office of the chief exec, Marvel Ent. "It gives us great pleasure to announce this appointment and to recognize Alan for his immeasurable contributions to the overall success of our business, especially as we move forward with our new studio initiative."
Fine has been ceo of Marvel's toy and publishing divisions since 1998 and 2004, respectively.
With a library of some 5,000 high-profile characters built over more than 60 years of comicbook publishing, Marvel Ent. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Headquartered in New York City, Marvel (www.marvel.com) utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios), publishing (via Marvel Comics) and toys, with emphasis on feature films, home DVD, consumer products, videogames, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Marvel's strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.
