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Warner Bros licensing agent for UEFA EURO 2004
CALIFORNIA: Kicking off a major international licensing agreement, the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) has announced the appointment of Warner Bros. Consumer Products as the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for UEFA EURO 2004 to be held in Portugal 12 June – 4 July 2004.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a division of media conglomerate AOL Time Warner, will use its European branches for creating licensed toys and apparel, a premium catalogue and a mascot for a strong retail presence at UEFA EURO 2004.
With this partnership, UEFA and Warner Bros. Consumer Products are looking to create a strong licensing and retail presence in the international sporting world. Under the deal, Warner Bros. Consumer Products will be in charge of the on site retail operation in Portugal during UEFA EURO 2004 where 16 of Europe’s top football teams battle it out on the field for the championship. The UEFA European Football Championship is held every four years and is the largest European football event, as televised matches from UEFA EURO 2000 captured a worldwide audience of over seven billion.
MAM
Bob Iger joins Thrive Capital as adviser after Disney exit
Former Disney CEO returns to VC firm, stays on as Disney adviser till 2026.
MUMBAI: From castles to capital, Bob Iger isn’t done building just changing the blueprint. Bob Iger has taken on an advisory role at Thrive Capital, marking a return to the New York-based venture firm he briefly joined in 2022. Founded in 2009 by Josh Kushner, Thrive Capital has been positioning itself at the intersection of technology and long-term value creation, an area where Iger’s experience in scaling global entertainment businesses is expected to add weight. Kushner, 40, welcomed Iger back, highlighting his ability to blend technology with human-centric storytelling, particularly in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
Iger is no stranger to Thrive. He had earlier joined the firm as a venture partner in September 2022, after stepping down as CEO of The Walt Disney Company and concluding his tenure as executive chairman in 2021. That stint, however, was short-lived. In November 2022, Disney’s board brought him back to steady the ship, replacing Bob Chapek following a turbulent period for the company.
Now, with his latest exit from Disney’s top job last month, Iger appears to be revisiting the venture world, this time with a clearer runway. Still, the Disney chapter isn’t entirely closed. Under his agreement with the company, he will remain until the end of 2026 as a senior adviser to new CEO Josh D’Amaro and will continue to serve on the board for his current term.
The move comes as venture firms increasingly seek operators with deep industry experience to navigate what Kushner described as “the most consequential technology shift” of the era, driven by AI. For Iger, whose career has hinged on blending creativity with scale, the transition from Hollywood to high-growth investing seems less like a pivot and more like a plot twist.
