Viz Media Appoints Laura Takaragawa to Head CPG Licensing and Promotions
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Viz Media, a world-leading producer of manga and anime, today announced the appointment of Laura Takaragawa to the newly created position of Vice President Consumer Products Licensing & Promotions. This position sees the integration of all of Viz Media's Licensed Merchandise & Collaborations, Interactive/Digital Games, LBE and Promotions across all licensed properties.
In this role, Laura will be responsible for all licensing and consumer product activities and, alongside senior leadership, will shape the company's long-term growth plan, further developing its consumer products brand portfolio and expanding the company's retail profile.
“The new role will help us in driving continued growth across our licensing and consumer product business and will provide opportunities to further deepen our relationships with consumers and our partners alike,” said Brad Woods Chief Marketing Officer, Viz Media. “We could not be happier to have Laura joining our team. Her vast experience in cross-platform licensing and brand storytelling, combined with her content knowledge and passion, make her the ideal leader for this role.”
Laura brings an enormous wealth of experience to the role having operated in key licensing leadership roles at Sanrio, National Geographic, and most recently as Head of Global Licensing at Netflix.
The new role will report directly to Brian Ige, Senior Vice President Animation, Viz Media, and is effective immediately. Viz Media is home to some of the most prestigious franchises available for licensed consumer products including Naruto, Bleach, and Inuyasha, plus emerging brands Doraemon and Hunter x Hunter.
ABOUT VIZ MEDIA:
An international authority on manga for more than three decades, Viz Media is leading the way in what's now, new and next. Reaching one in four millennials and half of all GenZ manga readers, VIZ is at the forefront of America's Japanese pop-culture phenomenon, which today dominates multiple industries from publishing and animation to film and gaming.
VIZ is proud to be the #1 destination for manga in America and home to some of the most prestigious anime brands driving the industry. Combined with a market share footprint larger than household names collectively, VIZ has pivoted from a localization company to a market leading pop culture publisher and producer.
In this role, Laura will be responsible for all licensing and consumer product activities and, alongside senior leadership, will shape the company's long-term growth plan, further developing its consumer products brand portfolio and expanding the company's retail profile.
“The new role will help us in driving continued growth across our licensing and consumer product business and will provide opportunities to further deepen our relationships with consumers and our partners alike,” said Brad Woods Chief Marketing Officer, Viz Media. “We could not be happier to have Laura joining our team. Her vast experience in cross-platform licensing and brand storytelling, combined with her content knowledge and passion, make her the ideal leader for this role.”
Laura brings an enormous wealth of experience to the role having operated in key licensing leadership roles at Sanrio, National Geographic, and most recently as Head of Global Licensing at Netflix.
The new role will report directly to Brian Ige, Senior Vice President Animation, Viz Media, and is effective immediately. Viz Media is home to some of the most prestigious franchises available for licensed consumer products including Naruto, Bleach, and Inuyasha, plus emerging brands Doraemon and Hunter x Hunter.
ABOUT VIZ MEDIA:
An international authority on manga for more than three decades, Viz Media is leading the way in what's now, new and next. Reaching one in four millennials and half of all GenZ manga readers, VIZ is at the forefront of America's Japanese pop-culture phenomenon, which today dominates multiple industries from publishing and animation to film and gaming.
VIZ is proud to be the #1 destination for manga in America and home to some of the most prestigious anime brands driving the industry. Combined with a market share footprint larger than household names collectively, VIZ has pivoted from a localization company to a market leading pop culture publisher and producer.
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