Maureen Taxter moves up to svp, retail and new business development, and Steve Youngwood becomes svp, media products.
"Maureen and Steve are extraordinarily talented and enthusiastic executives who continually succeed in building Nickelodeon's Consumer Products business lines by introducing great new stuff for kids," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, recently upped herself to evp, Consumer Products, Nickelodeon. "They have been instrumental in forging innovative partnerships with leading manufacturers and retailers to create and deliver products that really enable kids to experience Nickelodeon in a whole new way." The both report to Brodsky.
Taxter, who was vp, Retail and New Business Development, will oversee the development and execution of retail strategies and retail relationships for all Nickelodeon Consumer Products initiatives. In the newly created position of svp, new business development, Taxter will steer growth strategies for Consumer Products including development of other MTV Networks brands such as Comedy Central and Spike TV, as well as original properties coming both from within and outside the network.
A 22-year licensing industry veteran, Taxter was director of corporate licensing at Hasbro Inc., and spent 10 years at Jim Henson Productions before joining Nick.
Youngwood, who was vp, media products for Nickelodeon, is responsible for managing the business and creative ends of interactive products, video/DVD, electronics and the domestic book publishing businesses for all Nickelodeon properties. Youngwood also oversees the development and management of original properties and characters launched through video, interactive or books which may migrate to other areas of the company. In this newly created position, Youngwood will continue to steer these businesses for Consumer Products as well as other MTV Networks brands including Comedy Central and Spike TV.
Before joining the network, he was a consultant at McKinsey and Co., where he did strategy consulting for various industries in the U.S. and Germany.
