The Global Licensing Group at UBM, the industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner, is proud to announce that Steven Ekstract (pictured right), group publisher, License Global magazine, has been appointed brand director for the Global Licensing Group and Howard Gelb (pictured below left), vice president of sales, will undertake an expanded role, overseeing both media and event sales for the group’s portfolio. The new appointments complement the Global Licensing Group’s new focus on aligning its media and events businesses into one unified entity to better support the group’s shows and provide a more cohesive approach for its customers. The Global Licensing Group is responsible for Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, NYC Licensing Summit, License Global magazine, License Global Daily E-news and License TV.
In the newly created brand director role, Ekstract will drive brand and product strategy for all of the Global Licensing Group’s properties. Ekstract, who has been a leading voice in the licensing industry for more than two decades and founded License Global magazine in 1997, is often tapped as a thought leader to provide his insights and forecasts on the licensing business, making him an exceptional fit for this role. In addition to identifying opportunities for brand growth and acting as the market-facing voice of the Global Licensing Group, Ekstract will continue to oversee the production of License Global magazine.
“The licensing industry has been my key area of focus for the bulk of my career, and I look forward to leveraging my passion for the business to identify new and exciting ways to serve our key partners,” said Ekstract, brand director, Global Licensing Group. “The Global Licensing Group is a leading resource for anyone interacting with the licensing world, and my goal is to continue to innovate on our offerings to ensure our customers have the tools, knowledge and opportunities to succeed in this industry.”
Gelb brings ten years of experience leading sales strategy development and building relationships with key members of the licensing community. He has extensive experience developing new revenue streams and managing robust sales teams and will bring this nuanced expertise into his expanded, cross-portfolio role supporting the media and event sales strategies as well as business development across the Global Licensing Group portfolio.
“Licensing is a dynamic industry with many touchpoints, and the Global Licensing Group is uniquely equipped to deliver the events and industry knowledge our customers are seeking to stay ahead of the curve,” says Gelb, vice president of sales, Global Licensing Group. “I look forward to bringing this new integrated approach to our group’s sales strategy and working closely with our customers and partners to meet the needs of their brands while continuing to deliver the industry-leading events and content we’re known for producing.”
Every year at Global Licensing Group events, thousands of brands showcase to retailers, licensees, manufacturers and distributors. Through their events, the Global Licensing Group connects the world’s most influential entertainment, character, fashion, art and corporate brand owners and agents with consumer goods manufacturers, licensees and retailers.
Future Licensing Dates and Events:
- NYC Licensing Summit: New York City, New York, February 20
- Licensing Expo: Las Vegas, Nevada, May 22-24
- Licensing Expo Japan: Tokyo, April 25-27
- Licensing Expo China: Shanghai, July 25-27
- Brand Licensing Europe: London, October 9-11
The Global Licensing Group at UBM is the global licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide opportunities around the world to bring brands and products together to explore and cement licensing partnerships. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at UBM: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, NYC Licensing Summit, License Global magazine, License Global Daily E-news and License TV. For more info, visit www.ubmlicensinggroup.com.
