DIC’s Growing Worldwide Consumer Products Division has promoted 10-year DIC veteran Ryan Gagerman to vp, International Consumer Products for DIC Entertainment. It also named Lorne Bloch, director of Licensing and Stephanie Mente, manager of International Consumer Products.
Gagerman will be responsible for managing worldwide publishing agents and licensees, as well as DIC’s international licensing programs for the company’s high-profile brands, including STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE and TROLLZ. Additionally, he will oversee an in-house staff of seven, as well as outside consultants and agents.
Bloch will be responsible for managing the apparel, accessories and health and beauty categories for DIC, plus seek licensing partners for new properties, budget forecasting and business planning. He will report to Juanita Palomino, vp of domestic licensing.
Mente, who will report to Gagerman, will focus on growing the international business. She will manage more than 30 agents worldwide and as well as 300 licensees for the STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE brand. Additionally, she will collaborate with DIC’s newly appointed retail development consultant in Canada, to develop the TROLLZ program in that territory.
"Ryan’s promotion reflects the tremendous amount of dedication and hard work applied to growing our international business and the integral part he played in the global success of Strawberry Shortcake,” said Nancy Fowler, president, Worldwide Consumer Products, DIC to whom he reports. “Ryan will no doubt continue to be an invaluable asset to our division as we prepare for the upcoming global launch of TROLLZ.” She adds, “We are thrilled to bring Lorne and Stephanie onboard our growing team at DIC. Their respective experience in the consumer products business will build upon our division’s diverse areas of expertise.”
Gagerman was exec director of International Licensing, responsible for managing DIC’s international licensing programs throughout Europe, Latin America, Canada and Asia. Gagerman, who joined DIC in 1995 as coordinator, was responsible for handling the company’s master toy licensees and publishing opportunities. He began his career at Applause Inc.
Prior to joining DIC, Bloch was manager of domestic licensing at Viacom Consumer Products. He generated new licensing business for more than 15 properties, including classic and current television and film properties. Additionally, Bloch negotiated licensing agreements with major manufacturers in key categories, including stationery, gift and collectibles, toys, novelty, accessories and food and beverage. Previously, he was a supervisor in the consumer products and retail business development divisions at MGM Studios.
Mente joined DIC from Vivendi Universal Games in the consumer products division where she was licensor relations supervisor. She managed relationships between Universal Interactive’s worldwide divisions and partners. Mente was also a creative coordinator at Universal Interactive, responsible for establishing and maintaining strong internal, cross-divisional and third party relationships.
DIC Ent. (
www.dicentertainment.com ), a leading children's entertainment company, is a full-service studio dedicated to creating, developing, producing, distributing, marketing and merchandising family-based intellectual properties. DIC has distinguished itself by building one of the largest libraries of U.S. animation with more than 3,000 half-hours of programming. DIC has developed strategic partnerships with key domestic and international broadcast partners throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. DIC is headquartered in Burbank, California, with international offices in New York, Paris, London and Cologne.
