International Brand Chief to join ITV’s Global Division
29/05/2008
Gustavo Antonioni will join the recently merged Granada Ventures and Granada International in the newly created role of Commercial Brand Director it was announced today by Peter Iacono, President and Managing Director of ITV Worldwide.
The former Marvel Entertainment and Warner Bros executive will be responsible for driving the global marketing and licensing strategy for ITV’s key commercial brands such as Coronation Street, Dancing on Ice and Hell’s Kitchen. He will manage the global marketing team, as well as the brand management and merchandising and licensing teams.
Antonioni’s appointment follows the recent merger of Granada International and Granada Ventures, ITV’s sales, distribution and licensing businesses. Headed up by Peter Iacono, the newly merged division is responsible for the effective exploitation of content on behalf of ITV Productions and major independent producers and rights owners by licensing it to overseas broadcasters, merchandisers and publishers, online video services and via home entertainment distribution.
Most recently Gustavo has been an industry consultant covering brand creation to licensing distribution with clients such as Disney, Warner Bros, and UK Television Personalities that are launching their own brands.
Antonioni has a wealth of experience in both the European and International retail market, and over the last decade has held senior marketing positions on three continents for major entertainment companies including Sony Pictures, Time Warner and The Walt Disney Company.
Announcing the new appointment, Peter Iacono, said: “Gustavo Antonioni has a proven track record of managing high profile consumer brands for some of the biggest entertainment companies on the planet. His expertise and international outlook will play a vital role in driving ITV’s global marketing and licensing strategy forwards. I’m delighted to welcome Gustavo on board.”
Antonioni said: “I am looking forward to working with the ITV global team to provide a marketing focus for the development of ITV’s sales and licensing activities, and making some of the world’s most popular entertainment properties even more successful.”
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For more information, please contact:
Andrew Sholl
Head of Press, ITV Global Content
Tel: 084488 18293
andrew.sholl@itv.com
Alice Burden
PR Manager, Granada Ventures
Tel: 020 7389 8609
alice.burden@itv.com
Notes to Editors:
The international distribution arm for ITV’s theatrical, video, TV, publishing, consumer products and networks which combines the recently merged Granada International and Granada Ventures businesses is led by Peter Iacono, President and Managing Director of ITV Worldwide. Selling thousands of hours of programming, from ITV Productions and many other independent producers, to more than 200 countries worldwide and with more than 250 licensees throughout 70 countries, the distribution arm is part of ITV’s Global Content Division uniting all of ITV’s UK and international production and content businesses.