Turner streamlines L+M team amid wider cost cuts

Turner has streamlined its Turner CN Enterprises licensing and merchandising divison as the company continues a wide-ranging restructure under the leadership of Gerhard Zeiler.

The new-look TCNE will be run by vice president Alan Fenwick. Several internal appointments have been made with Maria Rosaria Milone, senior commercial director, leading a new sales team and responsible for developing licensing strategies in-line tailored to local and regional markets.

Leila Loumi has joined from The Beanstalk Group as head of category for Apparel, Accessories & Footwear.

Existing staff fill the other head of category positions. Jason Rice covers Toys and Sports, Annabel Rochfort Themed Entertainment, Victoria Saint Publishing, Videogames and Music, Sandra Selva-Abril Stationery and Home.

David Berry will continue in a consulting role for Turner and be head of category for Food and Promotions while Turner recruits a full-time staff member. Graham Saltmarsh has been appointed to head of retail for the UK, Italy, France and Nordics, Kathrin Schenk head of retail for CEE, Russia and Benelux and Mar Romera for Spain and Portugal.

All of the execs report to Fenwick.

The previous structure saw the division organised around territory and regional bosses.

“This structure was hugely effective and central to Turner delivering award winning campaigns including the billion dollar licensed property Ben 10 however we’re an ambitious business and we recognise the need to evolve and continually strive to improve our offering,” Fenwick told TBI.

Turner would not clarify staff numbers before and after the reorganisation, but Fenwick noted: “As is common across the industry, efficiencies have been made. We’ve streamlined the number of departments within the EMEA CP team and the business will now largely operate as a three tier structure – category managers supported by retail experts directed by senior executives.

The changes come as Zeiler continues to implement changes at Turner and reduce headcount across divisions.

However, it is understood that the changes at the L&M unit come following the appointment of Giorgio Stock. The former Disney exec joined in April and has implemented the new structure.