Pokémon USA employs new licensing executives

Holly Rawlinson and Nicole Piper are former executives of Mattel and Nickelodeon

Article Discussion* Report error Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Originally reported on Playthings This article brought to you by Bulbanews, your community Pokémon newspaper.

Pokémon USA has announced the appointment of two new executives to to oversee licensing efforts of the franchise.

Holly Rawlinson has been named vice president of licensing. Her main role is to produce, develop and implement an annual global business plan, though her job also involves producing strategies for licensing, retail, animation, television, movies, music and promotional opportunities. As well as the United States, these strategies affect North and South America and Europe.

Prior to working for PUSA, she was vice president of entertainment and licensing for Mattel. She oversaw the licensing of acquisitions for all of the toymakers brands along with movie and television programming and tie-ins. She also spent some time running Orange Grove Entertainment, a film and television production company.

Nicole Piper has been appointed senior director of licensing. Her role is to manage Pokémons present portfolio and oversee licensing business strategies for promotional opportunities domestically and internationally.

She has spent the past 11 years at MTV Networks International where she led the launch of Nickelodeon's licensing initiatives outside the United States.