Shine Australia's Ben Liebmann To Head Shine 360° Globally. Shine Group today announced the establishment of Shine 360°, a new group-wide division responsible for the management and commercialisation of non-broadcast rights for Shine Group properties on a global basis.
Based on the business unit originally created and successfully operated by group company Shine Australia for the last nine months; Ben Liebmann, currently Managing Director, Shine 360°, Australia will relocate to London with a new extended cross-group global brief, as CEO, Shine 360°, Shine Group from 5th January 2012. Reporting to Shine Group President Alex Mahon, Liebmann will be joined by additional team members who are currently being recruited.
Designed to complement existing commercial and licensing specialists within the international network of group companies; under Liebmann the new group-wide, Shine 360° will focus on the development and commercialisation of Shine Group properties across existing areas of sponsorship, brand partnerships, consumer products, interactive and digital brand extensions, live events and brand-funded entertainment, with particular emphasis on furthering retail and direct to consumer propositions.
In addition to guiding Group strategy and the brokering of global partnerships, the division will work closely with the current local commercial teams who remain operating within, and responsible for, off-air projects within their respective group companies.
Shine 360° will aim to build further on the successful extensions of Shine Group properties such as MasterChef and The Biggest Loser. Internationally, MasterChef has generated over $100m worldwide in global retail sales, with extensions across books and magazine publishing, cookware, sponsorship, mobile and tablet applications, and live events. 2.2 million MasterChef related books and magazines have been sold internationally, and nearly a quarter of a million people have attended MasterChef Live in the UK and Australia. The Biggest Loser has seen over 15m products sold, and $400m in global revenue raised through initiatives including million selling workout DVDs, global publishing, online weight-loss management services, fitness console gaming, and numerous heath-based food, drink and supplement ranges.
Shine 360°'s brief will be to further extend these Shine Group ancillary successes; establishing global best practice and off-air strategies for Group rights and intellectual property, identifying new opportunities and innovative, ambitious partnerships in all areas of non-broadcast activity.
Shine Group President Alex Mahon said: "Millions have been inspired by Shine's programmes throughout the world, not only through their broadcast but through scores of creative, innovative, off-air extensions be they brand partnerships, books, apps or ground-breaking live events; a good many of which have been originated and driven by Ben and his team. On a global basis Shine 360° will build on this work, ensuring a collective consistent focus that continues to encourage commercial excellence locally and provides further opportunities globally."
Ben Liebmann, CEO, Shine 360° said: "Shine 360° will be a creative and commercial rights management business, offering global leverage and perspectives to support our teams and build on their achievements. Great brands transcend demographics, geographies and platforms, and by adopting an approach that lays out a global strategy alongside local autonomy we are best placed to realise the full potential of our amazing brand and programming portfolio. In this new and exciting role, I am really looking forward to working more closely with my colleagues across the entire Shine Group. I'd also like to thank Carl and Mark Fennessy for first bringing me to Shine and for their continued support and friendship."
Prior to joining Shine Australia, Liebmann worked at companies including FremantleMedia, Warner Music Group and Vodafone across markets including Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Since its establishment in Australia in October 2010, Shine 360° has managed properties including MasterChef Australia, Junior MasterChef, The Biggest Loser, The Renovators, In Their Footsteps and The Voice. A successor to Liebmann as Managing Director, Shine 360° will be announced shortly, with the existing team of four all continuing in their present roles.