Tom Keefer named Senior Vice President of Global Licensing for BBC Worldwide

BBC Worldwide has appointed Tom Keefer, who will lead the existing UK and International teams and be responsible for growing licensing opportunities across BBC Worldwide’s portfolio of children’s adult brands, with initial focus on the US market. Tom will be reporting to Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director BBC Worldwide Children’s and Licensing and Garth Ancier, President BBC Worldwide Americas.

Neil Ross Russell said: “One of our core objectives when restructuring the business last year was examining untapped potential in territories outside the UK, especially the US where such a high proportion of the world’s licensing revenue is made. Tom is the ideal candidate to drive growth in this fundamental part of our business – he brings a wealth of invaluable experience – which will inform a new global licensing strategy to maximize value from our fantastic portfolio of brands both in the US and across the rest of the world.”

Tom joins BBC Worldwide with 30 years of global licensing and brand building experience. Since launching his career with Newsweek International, he has spearheaded the development of licensing programs for some of the world’s most prestigious businesses and brands including L.A. Gear, K-Swiss, Mattel – where he was head of International Marketing & Boys Licensing and SVP/General Manager – and most recently worked on FIFA/2010 World Cup.

Tom will be moving to New York City from Los Angeles and will be working at BBC Worldwide America’s offices in New York. Tom has a Bachelor of Arts, Economics, from University of California, Los Angeles.