After years of managing the host of international licensing agencies that looked after DIC Entertainment’s property portfolio outside the US, the company’s former president of worldwide consumer products Nancy Fowler has hopped the fence. She officially parted company with L.A.-based DIC yesterday to work full-time with The Licensing Shop founder (and husband) Steve Fowler to build up the fledgling brand management outfit’s client base and presence in the Canadian licensing industry.

The Licensing Shop has just moved into new offices in downtown Toronto and is starting to staff up. Currently, Nancy is concentrating on retail development for the firm, and says she and Steve are looking for employees to fill creative (i.e. product development, art direction) and administrative roles.

As for its client base, The Licensing Shop represents Pokémon and various properties from Al Ovadia & Associates (including Thumb Wrestling Federation) in the Canadian market. Nancy says two more high-profile clients should be announced in the next few weeks, and adds that while she left DIC on good terms, she will not be repping any DIC properties nor will it be joining The Licensing Shop’s client roster in the immediate future. Check out www.thelicensingshop.com for more info.