An exclusive fireside chat with Vince Klaseus, President of Universal Products & Experiences, the global consumer products, games, and theme park merchandise and retail division at NBCUniversal, is among the latest raft of content sessions confirmed for Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) 2025, which takes place 7-9 October at Excel London.
NBCUniversal: Building the Fandom Flywheel (Tuesday, 7 October, 11:30am, License Global Theatre) will look at how NBCUniversal – one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies – has perfected the art of turning great stories into cultural phenomena, from the big screen to store shelves, theme parks, and trending TikToks. This intimate, fireside chat between Vince Klaseus and Amanda Cioletti, Vice President, Content & Strategy, Global Licensing Group at Informa, will pull back the curtain on how the studio’s ‘symphony’ approach unites consumer products, retail partnerships, and location-based experiences into a self-reinforcing flywheel that keeps fans engaged long after opening weekend.
If you want to register for the BLE 2025, click here.
Together, they will address the following topics:
- How NBCUniversal’s most beloved franchises are managed for long-term growth
- How IP based retail and innovative products create flagship experiences for brands inside and outside the Universal theme parks
BLE event director Ella Haynes, said:
“We are thrilled Vince Klaseus is speaking at BLE this autumn – this is a rare opportunity for retailers, manufacturers and other brand owners to get behind the scenes on how leading licensor NBCUniversal thinks about its products and experiences to reach fans where they live, play and shop.”
NBCUniversal ranks at No. 4 on License Global’s annual Top Global Licensors whitepaper, with a reported $17 billion in retail sales of licensed consumer products in 2024. The exclusive report details insights from brand owners each year and shares which brands are leading the charge with consumers for product extensions and services.
Six additional sessions have been announced for the 2025 programme:
- From passion to profession: navigating career paths in an ever-evolving industry landscape
Three brand licensing industry experts will share their career journeys, valuable lessons and professional advice.
- Jen Maude-Roxby, head of licensing & business development, V&A
- Carter Brown, CP product development specialist, Hasbro
- Will Stewart, founder & CEO, True Purpose Enterprises
- Licensing meets Amazon: How licensees and licensors can maximise brand value online
Delivered by Venture Forge CEO Andrew Banks, this session will help brand owners, licensees and licensors turn licensing agreements into high-performing Amazon strategies to protect IP, grow sales and strengthen partnerships.
- Licensing agents 101: What they do and why they matter
This session will teach attendees what agents do and how to find the right one with the following panelists confirmed:
- Andrew Hodgson, managing director of Europe, LMCA
- Claire Potter, managing director, Metrostar
- Gemma Witts, managing director, Europe, Retail Monster
- IP & licensing – a crash course
This dynamic session – led by JMW Solicitors partners John Burns and John Buckby – will look at what IP is, how to protect it and what to watch out for in licensing agreements, leaving visitors equipped to maximise their brand’s potential through licensing.
- Brand development through storytelling
This session looks at how we can build awareness for properties through stories. Whether audiovisual and gaming or books and immersive experiences, storytelling is becoming increasingly essential for a brand to succeed.
- Hong Kong Arts Centre: Where IP & arts come to life
Hong Kong Arts Centre is Asia’s creative arts gateway, bridging East and West. It nurtures over 30 original IPs, from comics to multimedia – through exhibitions, publishing and licensing. With world-class facilities and government support, HKAC connects artists, licensors, and collectors, turning local stories into global cultural assets.
