MAM
Warner Bros to leverage brands at Licensing 2002 International
Warner Brothers’ Consumer Products division has announced an impressive lineup of brands at Licensing 2002 International. The company is aiming at redefining franchise opportunities for the licensing community. The show will take place from 11 to 13 June in New York.
Licensing 2002 International is the annual trade show for the multi-billion dollar worldwide business of consumer product licensing, marketing and merchandising and the show continues to be the most important marketplace for concepts and creative ideas related to the biggest brands in the world. It is estimated that consumers worldwide spend more than $95 billion on licensed products annually.
Warner Bros. will sing Looney Tunes, weave magic with the help of Harry Potter, solve the mystery of Scooby-Doo. Visitors can also exerience the the force of The Powerpuff Girls .
Through Scooby Doo promotions, Warner is hoping to build up excitement ahead of the release of the first-ever, live-action film based on Scooby-Doo on 14 June. The film stars Freddie Prinze Jr. as ringleader Fred; Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne and Scooby-Doo in full 3D CGI for the first time. In addition to a fully integrated theatrical marketing campaign, promotional partners and a soundtrack featuring Shaggy, Baha Men Warner Bros. Consumer Products has created a licensing and merchandising programme.
The Looney Tunes brand is comprehensively supported worldwide by publishing, music, interactive, online, home video, advertising and branded food/beverages. Looney Tunes brand flavoured milks, first distributed in China and now the US and Mexico, have been guzzled by consumers all over the world.
The Powerpuff Girls is the winner of last year’s International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) License of the Year. The world’s first female kindergarten superheroes, The Powerpuff Girls will fly onto the big screen in their very first theatrically animated feature film on 3 July. This year, The Powerpuff Girls reading club will officially be launched.
Brands
Radico Khaitan appoints Kunal Madan as chief marketing officer
Promotions signal focus on premium spirits, global expansion and homegrown leadership
UTTAR PRADESH: Radico Khaitan has elevated two long-serving insiders to its top leadership team, signalling a bold push into premium spirits and global markets. Kunal Madan steps in as chief marketing officer, while Sudhir Upadhyay takes charge as chief sales officer, both part of what managing director Abhishek Khaitan calls a consciously built next-generation leadership bench.
“At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people,” Khaitan said. “True leadership is not imported, it is cultivated.” He added that empowering internal talent ensures continuity while keeping the company globally competitive and future-ready.
Madan, with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, will drive brand architecture, marketing strategy, and the premiumisation agenda, including travel retail. Upadhyay, who has 25 years in the industry and was most recently national sales head, will oversee distribution expansion and execution across markets.
The leadership reshuffle comes amid Radico’s intensified focus on premium spirits, a segment driving higher margins and international growth. Last year, Ajay Kakkar was brought on to head the Premium On-Trade vertical, targeting modern and institutional channels to boost presence in high-growth segments.
Meanwhile, Amar Sinha stepped down as chief operating officer after contributing across multiple growth phases. Khaitan acknowledged Sinha’s role in supporting the company’s trajectory, while Sinha described his tenure as “an absolute privilege,” crediting Khaitan’s leadership for shaping the company’s strategic direction.
With a homegrown leadership bench and a clear premium agenda, Radico Khaitan is set to accelerate its global expansion while doubling down on brand elevation and market impact.
