By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Australian toy company Moose Toys has appointed consumer products and licensing veteran Robbie Prinzo as senior vice president, consumer products.
Prinzo will lead Moose’s new Consumer Products division in what is a newly established position in the company. Prinzo will be heading a dedicated team responsible for managing all global, out-licensed consumer products.
While Moose Toys is based in Australia, it has operations in 10 countries around the world, and much of its licensing activity takes place abroad.
Prinzo will be based out of the company’s U.S. operation in El Segundo, California, reporting to Chief Brand Officer Joe Lawandus.
“Establishing a dedicated Consumer Products division is an important next step as we continue to build Moose into a global brand powerhouse and find new ways for consumers to engage with our brands,” said Lawandus. “Robbie brings extensive consumer products experience, strong industry relationships, and a proven track record of building successful global licensing programs.
“With Robbie’s leadership, we see tremendous opportunity to build Moose brands and take them into new categories.”
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Prinzo brings more than 20 years of consumer products, licensing and brand-building experience to Moose.
Most recently, he served as head of global licensing for Cloudco Entertainment, where he led merchandise, location-based entertainment and promotions, overseeing more than $750 million in global retail sales. He developed licensing and merchandising strategies for brands including Care Bears, driving international expansion across more than 20 territories. Notably, Prinzo’s time at Cloudco corresponded with a huge increase in licensing activity for the company, and particularly for the Care Bears brand.
Prior to his stint at Cloudco, Prinzo held senior licensing roles at Hasbro and Nickelodeon Consumer Products.
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At Hasbro, he directed the company’s licensed softlines business across the U.S. and Canada and developed merchandise strategies and partnerships across fashion and home for brands including Transformers and My Little Pony.
At Nickelodeon, he managed licensing programs across a portfolio of entertainment properties including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Blue’s Clues.
Joining Moose Toys gives Prinzo a wide range of intellectual property to work with. The move to Moose also happens as Authentic Brands Group acquires the Care Bears IP, and takes the reins on licensing for that brand.
While it’s not known if that was part of Prinzo’s decision to move to Moose Toys, he did note the new role will give him a significant licensing portfolio to work with.
“Moose has built an incredible portfolio that has so much room to grow beyond toys,” said Prinzo. “I’m energized by the opportunity to build on that and take our brands into new categories, products and experiences, giving fans more ways to enjoy the brands they love.”
The new Consumer Products division will sit alongside Moose’s inbound licensing team under the continued leadership of Hollie Holmes, who also reports to Lawandus.
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