MAM
Fremantle signs more licensees for Cbeebies show
MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has announced new licensees in the UK and Eire for their hit pre-school series Cbeebies‘s show ‘Tree Fu Tom‘.
The latest deals cover a wide range of partners and categories, including: Blues clothing for daywear; MV Sports for wheeled toys; Flair for arts and crafts; VMC for accessories and dress up; Gemma for greeting cards and party products; Ravensburger for puzzles; Egmont for annuals; and Rainbow Productions for character costumes.
The latest round of signings are in addition to current partners Giochi Preziosi, who are the master toy licensee, Random House for publishing, Aykroyd and TDP for children‘s nightwear and Character World for bedroom textiles and accessories.
A second series of Tree Fu Tom was recently ordered by CBeebies for 2013 and the show is also distributed globally by FME, finding audiences in a number of territories around the world including France, Australia and Latin America. With a global licensing programme underway as well as a complementary home entertainment strategy, Tree Fu Tom is one of the hot brands to watch.
FME VP UK licensing and retail Pindy O‘Brien said, “With a host of new licensees on board, a new series commissioned for CBeebies and some exciting new international TV distribution deals, Tree Fu Tom is proving to be a great success both on and off screen.”
Aimed at 4-6 year olds, ‘Tree Fu Tom‘ combines innovative elements of heroic action, fantasy and magic, coupled with unique interactive physical activity. Set in an enchanted world where movement creates magic, viewers are encouraged to interact with the show through physical actions that have been devised and approved by movement development specialists to assist in the development of children. Former Doctor Who stars Sophie Aldred and David Tennant voice the lead characters Tom and Twigs.
With animation by Blue Zoo Animation, Tree Fu Tom is a co-production between FME and the BBC for CBeebies. The executive producers for the BBC are Jackie Edwards and Alison Stewart; and Bob Higgins and Sander Schwartz for FME. Tree Fu Tom was created and produced by Daniel Bays.
MAM
Manappuram Finance appoints Sreekanth P V as group head – operations
22-year veteran from Bajaj Finance to drive efficiency and customer experience.
MUMBAI: Manappuram Finance just upgraded its operations engine because when customer delight needs turbocharging, even the gold loans get a smoother ride. Manappuram Finance Ltd has appointed industry veteran Sreekanth P V as group head for operations & customer experience at the grade of president. In his new role, Sreekanth will lead efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, streamline processes, drive service innovation and scale the company’s digital ecosystems across all business verticals.
Sreekanth brings over 22 years of experience in operations management, digital platforms, product innovation and customer experience within the financial services sector. Most recently he served as deputy executive vice president for digital platforms at Bajaj Finance Ltd, where he led the development of a unified app and web platform strategy and built a cohesive digital ecosystem.
Manappuram Finance, chairman and managing director V. P. Nandakumar said, “We are pleased to welcome Mr Sreekanth P V to the leadership team. He brings extensive experience in operations management, digital platforms and customer experience. As we continue to strengthen our operational capabilities and enhance customer engagement, his expertise will play an important role in driving efficiency, innovation and service excellence across the organisation.”
The appointment reflects Manappuram Finance’s ongoing focus on building a stronger leadership bench and elevating operational standards as the company scales its lending and customer engagement capabilities.
In a sector where every rupee counts twice, Sreekanth isn’t just joining the team, he’s the new conductor making sure the entire orchestra of loans, digital flows and customer smiles stays perfectly in tune.
