We delve into the licensing life of the licensing director of Hachette Children’s Group.
Katie Price,
Licensing director, Hachette Children’s Group
My route into the licensing industry went something like this…
I started work at HIT Entertainment in 2001 as a sales executive selling the publishing rights of Bob the Builder (the first time round!) to France, Germany and Benelux. I stayed there (which later became Mattel) for 14 years and joined Hachette as licensing director in August last year.
How many years in the industry?
15 years (feels like so much longer).
When I was growing up, I had no idea licensing was an industry so I wanted to be…
A teacher (which I was for three years – teaching English in Japan, but it just felt like I was on one big holiday so had to come home eventually).
The deal I am most proud of is…
Acquisition of Pokémon publishing rights and being able to turn around the publication of three official titles and get the contract signed in the space of six weeks.
My most interesting experience in licensing has been…
Meeting and shaking hands with the Queen when she came to the HIT offices when we won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2004. She was lovely but I was terrified – thankfully she was wearing gloves as I had very sweaty palms.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is…
‘It’s just kids TV – we’re not saving people’s lives’. When feeling very stressed, overwhelmed and overworked and some perspective was needed.
If I wasn’t in licensing, I would be…
A speech and language therapist. Random I know, but my daughter had severe speech delays and I became really interested in what they did and even learnt Makaton.
Who do you admire most in the industry (and why)?
Rob Corney of Bulldog Licensing – and not just because he’s our agent for Enid Blyton but because I really admire his honest and very hands on approach to licensing. I’m really impressed by how much he has achieved in the last ten years.
In a film of your life, which licensed character would play you?
Wonder Woman – having four year old twins, a seven year old and a demanding full time job is challenging! Also, I’ve always secretly coveted that outfit.
If I could change anything about the industry, it would be…
Less carving up of format rights, it’s licensing not ‘splicensing’.
