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Senior Category Manager, Hardline Licensing

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The Senior Category Manager is responsible for managing our Activision-Blizzard Hardlines portfolio in the region to build a sustainable consumer products business that achieves annual revenue targets.

As part of the International Consumer Products team, the Category Manager will be responsible for establishing and executing a long-term business strategy for each of the toy & hardline subcategories (Toys, collectibles, Food/confectionery/beverage, HBA, peripherals, financial products and etc.), and growing the CP business in line with Global strategies and guidelines while leveraging a strong knowledge of the local market’s individual needs and opportunities.

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like Activision Blizzard, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

Assessing, managing, and leading all day-to-day aspects of the Activision Blizzard Licensing business, including licensing, wholesale & retail partnerships, including working with the Local/regional/international teams on business planning and strategy, new business development, and tactical marketing initiatives.

• Strategy : Set and execute long-term business development strategy for categories adapting the Global strategy to our local/regional/International consumer needs. Be responsible for identifying the best licensees to partner with, driving innovative and quality product ranges, providing regional input into global deals, accurate quarterly forecasting and promoting retail sell-in of core ranges.
• Financial : AOP planning including detailed targets and action plan (by brand, category, country and quarter). Manage the Toy & hardlines P&L to deliver or exceed annual revenue target. Provide quarterly business forecasts to evaluate progress against budget. Highlight any upsides or sensitivities.
• Category management:
• Develop a clear growth strategy for categories in charge including financial targets and benchmark progress.
• Identify opportunities and fill gaps by product sub-category, franchise and market channel.
• Partner with creative team to drive quality and champion innovation in local product development. Ensure timely product approvals in line with market beats as well as AB gaming key beats.
• Licensing management:
• Responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of licensees to grow the CP business. Critically evaluate the licensee base to ensure we have the right amount and best quality partners.
• Management of global/regional licensee and providing support to partner’s local team to ensure the business penetration in the market.
• Negotiate the best deals in line with CP guidelines and business objectives and manage the process from contract to product development and execution. Provide input into global deals to ensure regional needs are met and leverage global deal locally.
• Determine where DTR relationships could enhance our business and negotiate/manage these deals.
• Franchise development
• Develop a clear franchise growth plan for the markets for all of the core properties and identify market-specific opportunities in line with franchise key beats.
• Bring inputs of additional creative assets where required to meet local market needs.
• Retail and Ecommerce Development
• Follow trend of the retail market (physical, digital, channels…) and maintain knowledge of key seasonality / buying cycles of retailers.
• Understand key seasonality and important dates on the retail/ecommerce calendar.
• HQ & internally
• work closely with HQ to ensure that our execution is aligned with Global guidelines (creative, approval, Roi, legal, financial etc.)
• Communicate status update with HQ counterparts in categories on a weekly basis
• Building and maintaining strong relationships and influence critical internal stakeholders within the internal teams such as Local publishing, Marketing, Business Development, Legal, Finance and other cross-functional teams.

Qualification & Requirements

• A minimum of 10 year of relevant experience & Educated to degree level or equivalent required, MBA preferred.
• Substantial experience in Licensing role, including Leadership role. Plus, FMCG or retail preferred. Strong understanding of brand and property positioning.
• Ability to think strategically, and able to communicate a compelling vision of the business
• Current network of strong relationships with licensees, distributors and retailers within the territories.
• Proven track record delivering growth and solid analytical/finance skills
• Proven ability pitching and negotiating skills with the ability to close deals
• Self-motivated professional with ability to work independently and take charge
• Strong people person able to influence others
• Ability to customize and create sales presentations and other materials as needed
• Well experienced of dealing with senior leadership, outside 3rd party, talent and international contacts
• Team Player and comfortable with matrix organization and ambiguity.
• Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information in a discrete manner
• Excellent communication skills with attention to detail and ability to develop and deliver clear and consistent message across different stakeholders
• Ability to identify key priorities within a heavy workload and execute on them
• Able to travel and work under pressure
• Fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese
• Knowledge and fandom of Blizzard franchises and/or esports will be a PLUS.