UNIVERSAL CITY, CA, August 10, 2017 — Universal Brand Development today announced the appointment of Joe Lawandus to Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America Consumer Products, and Marc Low expands his current role to Senior Vice President and General Manager, International Consumer Products. Both Lawandus and Low will report directly to Universal Brand Development’s President, Vince Klaseus. Lawandus will join Universal in September.

“Our global consumer products business unit has grown exponentially over the last two years both in the US and international territories. As we continue to expand our business both creatively and categorically, both Joe and Marc have the proven ability to amplify both our businesses and partner relationships as we set new benchmarks for the future,” commented Klaseus.

Lawandus, a consumer products and toy industry veteran, was most recently SVP and General Manager of Global Brand Marketing and Design at Mattel. As the leader of the Mattel Toy Box Boys brand design and marketing teams, he established a strong growth trajectory for the business and was responsible for developing Mattel owned intellectual properties as well as licensed products for action figures, role-play, vehicles and innovative toys. Prior to Mattel, he was co-founder of Seattle gaming startup Smith & Tinker Inc., and held executive roles at Cranium, Inc., and Disney Consumer Products where he was VP and General Manager of Toys and Sporting Goods. Joe started his consumer products career as a global brand manager at Hasbro. 

Low is currently Senior Vice President of International for Universal’s Consumer Products business unit. His expanded role to General Manager will allow him to further drive the company’s CP business in the group’s rapidly expanding international regions. Low has been opening offices and leading the division’s rapid growth across international markets.

Universal Brand Development’s EVP of Worldwide Consumer Products, Manuel Torres Port, will be leaving the company at the end of the month to pursue new interests. 

About Universal Brand Development

Universal Brand Development globally drives expansion of the company’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Along with franchise brand management, Universal Brand Development’s core business units include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, and Live Entertainment based on the company's extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal cable and television. Universal Brand Development is a business segment of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.