Licensing industry veteran Kirk Bloomgarden is trading in somewhat soggy London for the sunny climes of L.A. to take the post of EVP of global sales at DIC Entertainment. Bloomgarden will be heaading up management of the company’s worldwide television, home entertainment and consumer products divisions effective January 1.

‘It’s an exciting opportunity professionally and personally,’ says Bloomgarden, who spent the past 15 years at UK-based Copyright Promotions, serving as CEO of the DIC-owned large pan-Euro licensing agency since 2000.

‘The first 12 months will be focused on further developing the brands we have in the portfolio, McDonalds, Strawberry Shortcake and HorseLand,’ says Bloomgarden. And in that vein, he’ll be collaborating with executives from each division in addition to third-party partners, rights holders and licensees to manage each of DIC’s brands as and oversee the implementation of strategic brand plans.

He will be based in DIC’s L.A. office, which suits him just fine. ‘I’m from Los Angeles, so that was a compelling reason to take the job, along with the opportunity to grow the business.’

While most of his experience lies on the consumer products side of the business, Bloomgarden believes taking on broadcast sales won’t be a huge stretch. ‘I’ve been involved with TV through Consumer Products,’ he says. ‘I have an understanding of the business, but and I look forward to building on that understanding.’