Fanatics appoints new Licensing Director to oversee expanding international partner portfolio
Fanatics, the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, has announced the appointment of Younes Layati as Licensing Director where he will be tasked with managing the company’s growing international partner portfolio.
Layati joins from Nike, where most recently he worked on supporting and managing the company’s relationship with the French Football Federation and Paris Saint-Germain. In his new role, Layati will be responsible for driving Fanatics’ international licensing strategy, working day-to-day with existing partners across several global leagues and properties to maximize their online and offline commerce offerings.
Layati, who will be based in Europe and will report into Senior Vice-President for Business Affairs Vicky Picca, joins a growing international team at Fanatics, which has seen its international presence expand significantly over recent years with the company now operating office and fulfilment centers in 11 countries around the world.
The appointment of Layati comes after the recent ground-breaking deal with Paris Saint-Germain which now sees Fanatics operate the e-commerce business for one of football’s most recognizable global brands. Under the innovative new partnership, Fanatics also serves as the master licensee for their full merchandise portfolio, aside from Nike products and other co-branding initiatives.
Senior Vice-President for Business Affairs, Vicky Picca, said: “Younes is a tremendous addition to our team here at Fanatics. He has a thorough understanding of the licensing world, particularly across European football, and he will bring a wealth of experience to the global Licensing team. We are certain he will be a valuable asset to our partners as we continue to elevate our international business”.
Fanatics partners with many of the most recognised and successful global sporting organisations, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, Manchester United, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, England Rugby, Ryder Cup and Formula One.
Speaking about his appointment, Younes Layati, said: “I am delighted to be joining Fanatics, one of the most innovative and fastest growing companies in the licensed sports industry. I have had a front-row seat watching the company transform the business and I am excited to now be a part of it, working closely with an incredible roster of partners around the world.”
