MAM
Melissa Tinker joins Cartoon Network Enterprises as VP
MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific has appointed Melissa Tinker as vice president of its licensing and merchandise division, Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE).
Tinker brings over 15 years of industry experience focused on crafting licensing strategies for brand expansion, and was instrumental behind the success of many kids‘ and family entertainment brands.
In her new role, she will be reporting to Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific senior VP and MD, Entertainment Networks Sunny Saha.
“Melissa is joining the CNE team at a time of unprecedented growth for our business in Asia. With Melissa‘s proven track record within the industry, CNE will be taken to even greater heights as she identifies innovative partnerships that create more opportunities for brand engagement,” Saha said.
Tinker will assume the leadership of CNE‘s regional licensing & merchandise strategy, planning and network collaboration for Turner‘s franchises such as Ben 10, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball and The Powerpuff Girls.
Tinker‘s appointment coincides with CNE‘s expansion across the region that includes branded learning centres and themed destinations in addition to the growth of traditional categories of toys, apparel, home entertainment, publishing and lifestyle products.
“I am delighted to be joining Cartoon Network and to be working alongside such a dynamic and experienced team. I see endless opportunity with such powerhouse brands and the exceptional content Turner has to offer. I am very much looking forward to developing regional initiatives to support the franchise partners and introducing new partners to the business,” said Tinker.
Prior to this, Tinker was with Chorion, Australia for six years, where she was Sr VP of Licensing, Asia Pacific.
She has also worked with Haven Licensing where she managed a portfolio of Universal Studios, MTV Networks/Nickelodeon and ACP.
MAM
WPP appoints Estée Lauder’s Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer
Former Estée Lauder executive to lead operations, technology and culture overhaul under WPP’s three-year growth plan
LONDON: WPP has appointed Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer in a newly created role tasked with delivering the group’s Elevate28 strategy.
Choueiri joins from The Estée Lauder Companies, where she led enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, including the “One ELC” operating model and major upgrades to enterprise marketing, data and analytics capabilities. She also led the redesign of enterprise technology teams and served on the company’s AI taskforce, driving AI strategy, adoption and value realisation across the business.
At WPP, she will be responsible for designing, implementing and embedding the operating model behind Elevate28, the company’s three-year growth plan unveiled in February 2026. She will lead efforts to improve innovation, efficiency and integration across WPP’s client offerings, with a focus on delivering agile, outcome-driven solutions and measurable growth.
Choueiri will oversee organisational transformation across the group, working closely with product and enterprise technology teams to deploy AI, data and technology to build new capabilities and improve operational performance. She will also work with the people function to embed cultural change, strengthen an agile performance mindset and support talent development across the organisation.
Before joining Estée Lauder, she held senior roles across consulting and digital agencies, including at Accenture, Masaï (a Bain & Company spin-off), and Kearney, with experience spanning strategy, data and digital marketing transformation.
Cindy Rose, chief executive officer of WPP, said Choueiri brings a strong track record of leading large-scale transformation across operations, technology and culture, adding that her appointment will help accelerate the group’s next phase of growth under Elevate28.
Choueiri said WPP’s strategy represents an ambitious opportunity to reshape how the company operates and delivers for clients, adding that she looks forward to building integrated solutions and fostering a culture of innovation and change.
She will be based in New York and will join WPP’s executive committee.
