Media Release

CARTOON NETWORK HIRES NEW HEAD FOR LICENSING & CONSUMER PRODUCTS BUSINESS IN APAC

(HONG KONG) March 28, 2018 – Turner Asia Pacific has appointed Vikram Sharma Vice President of Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), its regional licensing and merchandising division.

Joining Turner in March, Mr Sharma is tasked with driving sales across the whole region for its branded toys, apparel, home entertainment, publishing and lifestyle products. Major franchises and IP under CNE’s management from the Cartoon Network portfolio of shows including Ben 10, We Bare Bears, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball and The Powerpuff Girls, as well as Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty.

His remit also includes the management of Tuzki, the digital IP and emoticon of choice in China and beyond. In South Asia, Turner acts as a representative for Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

Ricky Ow, President of Turner Asia Pacific, said: “The potential of the CNE business is immense and with Vikram leading the charge, we know it can be realised. We are incredibly pleased to have attracted someone with his track record and have high hopes that fans of our amazing IP and franchises will have products that match their passion.”

EMEA President Giorgio Stock, who also spearheads Cartoon Network Enterprises for Turner internationally, will work closely with the CNE team in Asia Pacific to maintain consistency and strategic direction for the business outside of the US.

Before joining Turner, Mr Sharma held various key positions in Disney across Asia including Singapore and India. He’s a proven commercial leader with successful stints in overall P&L management and in different aspects of sales and distribution, with a special focus on retail and franchise monetization. Most recently he led Disney’s consumer products business in Thailand, a key location for Turner’s CNE business.

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For more information, please contact:
James Moore, Director of Communications, Turner Asia Pacific
James.Moore@turner.com
Tel: +852 3128-3720

About Cartoon Network Enterprises
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), the licensing and merchandising arm of Turner Asia Pacific, is responsible for building world-class licensing programs across its franchises including The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Adventure Time, We Bare Bears, The Amazing World of Gumball and Rick and Morty, as well as other Cartoon Network and Adult Swim originals. CNE connects with millions of Cartoon Network fans through consumer and home entertainment products, promotional licensing, interactive games, publishing and live events.

Turner also owns Tuzki, the digital IP for a new generation. And in South Asia, Turner represents the Warner Bros. Consumer Products business, managing world-famous IP such as Batman, Superman, Tom and Jerry, and Looney Tunes.

The CNE team works closely with Turner’s location-based entertainment department in Hong Kong, which oversees licensed projects such as the Cartoon Network Amazone waterpark in Thailand, the cruise liner, Cartoon Network Wave, and Amaazia theme park in India.

About Turner Asia Pacific
Turner Asia Pacific creates and distributes award-winning brands throughout the region, running 63 channels in 14 languages in 42 countries. These include CNN International, CNNj, CNN, HLN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, POGO, Toonami, Warner TV, Oh!K, TNT, TCM Turner Classic Movies, truTV, MondoTV, TABI Channel, Tabi Tele, Mondo Mah-Jong TV, and HBO, HBO HD and WB in South Asia. Turner manages the business of Pay- and Free-TV-channels, as well as Internet-based services, and oversees commercial partnerships with various third-party media ventures; it teams with Warner Bros. and HBO to leverage Time Warner’s global reach. Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. (“Turner Asia Pacific”) is a Time Warner company.