UK-based Target Entertainment has appointed Richard Oren to the newly created position of VP licensing USA, Canada and Latin America. Oren is working out of Target’s New York office and his first priority revolves around getting US and Canadian licensing programs off the ground for the upcoming US$65 million theatrical version of The Nutcracker being released in January.

In addition he will be creating strategic licensing plans for shows developed by Target Entertainment’s Children’s and Family Programming division, acquiring third-party representation rights to other brands and managing the company’s Latin American agents.

Oren comes to Target after serving six years as director of licensing at HBO, where he built the net’s licensing business, managing contract negotiations, product development and promotions for its IP. Prior to that, he worked at The Jim Henson Company with celebrated properties such as The Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House as brand manager.