COOKIE JAR ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS U.S. OPERATIONS WITH TWO KEY EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS Lisa Tanzer Named Vice President U.S. Marketing André Lake Mayer Named Vice President U.S. Licensing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Los Angeles, CA (September 22, 2005)-Cookie Jar Entertainment, the entertainment arm of Cookie Jar Group, has appointed Lisa Tanzer Vice President U.S. Marketing, and André Lake Mayer Vice President U.S. Licensing. The announcement was made by Toper Taylor, President and COO, Cookie Jar Entertainment.
The appointments come as Cookie Jar expands operations in the U.S. to meet the growing success of the company's new hit series, The Doodlebops. This summer, The Doodlebops consistently claimed the #1 slot in kids 2-5 in Disney Channel's 6:30 a.m. time slot Monday - Friday, and 7:30 on Saturdays and Sundays*. Disney currently airs The Doodlebops 11 times per week in even stronger time periods; daily at 9:00 a.m. and Tuesday through Friday at 11:30 a.m.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome these two highly skilled entertainment professionals to our licensing and marketing teams. Under the direction of team leaders John Gildea and Kelly Elwood, Lake Mayer and Tanzer will play pivotal roles in the success of Cookie Jar's growing roster of high-profile brands in the global marketplace," said Taylor.
Reporting to Senior Vice President of Marketing, Kelly Elwood, Tanzer's responsibilities will include strategic planning and the expansion of the company's brand marketing initiatives. Among her first projects, Tanzer will develop new marketing initiatives and strategic partnerships for Cookie Jar's hit series, The Doodlebops.
Lake Mayer will oversee all areas of domestic licensing and merchandising for the growing profile of children's brands with an emphasis on soft lines in partnership with John Gildea, Senior Vice-President, Consumer Products.
Lisa Tanzer comes to Cookie Jar Entertainment with over fifteen years of senior level marketing and branding experience. Most recently, Tanzer was Vice President, Marketing for SmarterKids.com - an early leader in the online toy space. Prior to her time at SmarterKids.com, Tanzer served as the Director of Marketing for Hasbro Inc., were she was responsible for the global product development and marketing for the Preschool Division, which includes the Playskool, Mr. Potato Head, Lincoln Logs and Tinkertoy brands. Tanzer also held marketing and strategy positions at The Gillette Company and Staples, Inc.
André Lake Mayer joins Cookie Jar Entertainment with an impressive 20-year track record in entertainment and lifestyle brand licensing, marketing, and consumer products. Most recently, she operated her own marketing and licensing agency, Twister Sisters Inc., with clients including By Kids For Kids, Turner Classic Movies, TBS Superstation, and Battle Bots. Previously, she served as Director of Licensing for Lucasfilm, Ltd., where she spearheaded the strategy and launch plan for the Star Wars brand franchise and the release of Star Wars: Episode I, managing all domestic partnerships and industry sectors from toys to apparel, and packaged goods to retail. Prior to Lucasfilm, Ltd., Lake Mayer served as Executive Director of Licensing for Viacom Consumer Products where she was responsible for the strategic planning and monetization of all Paramount Pictures film, television and corporate assets. Lake Mayer has negotiated and managed hundreds of licensing relationships which have generated sales of more than one-half billion dollars at retail in a broad range of product categories.
About Cookie Jar Group
Cookie Jar Group develops, produces, distributes and markets quality products to children, their caregivers, parents and teachers. Cookie Jar Group's products reflect its commitment to providing the best in children's published content, animated and live action programming and innovative educational and entertainment-driven products worldwide. The group of companies consists of Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. and Cookie Jar Education Inc.
Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc., Cookie Jar Group's entertainment operation, is a leading, global, independent producer, marketing and brand manager of such renowned children's properties as "The Doodlebops", "Gerald McBoing Boing", "Arthur" and "Spider Riders". Combining globally renowned intellectual properties with an industry-recognized management team, Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. is a market-driven, brand building company that is committed to children first and foremost and is dedicated to the development and production of quality programming that embraces the whole child, with animated and live-action series that entertain, inspire and enlighten children and family audiences worldwide.
*NHI, Gal Explorer, US Rating, 7/18/05-9/4/05, p2-5, 6:30am M-F, 7:30am SS TP, vs. NICK, CARTOON, TOON DISNEY, NOGGIN, ABC FAM
MEDIA CONTACT: SSA Public Relations Steve Syatt - (818) 501-0700
