Maryellen Zarakas

Maryellen Zarakas Appointed Vice President, General Manager, Television Licensing For Warner Bros. Consumer Products - Signaling A Strategic Commitment To Licensing Programs For Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Animation, and Cartoon Network Properties.

Burbank, CA, June 6, 2003 - Maryellen Zarakas has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of Television Licensing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products, it was announced today by Karen McTier, Executive Vice President, Domestic Licensing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The newly created position demonstrates a strategic commitment to identifying, developing, and nurturing new properties from the increasingly rich world of television programming.

"Whether supporting film, television, or publishing properties, Warner Bros. Consumer Products has a long track record of identifying and capitalizing on opportunities to extend the reach of entertainment brands," said Dan Romanelli, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products. "Television is a content-rich platform and one that we've had much success with in the past. We are committing dedicated resources to work with our partners at Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Animation, and Cartoon Network to identify opportunities even earlier in order to support their growth."

Reporting to McTier, Zarakas will be responsible for building licensing programs and creating retail strategies for select properties from Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network, Kids! WB, and Warner Bros. Television across all categories. Zarakas will work closely with development executives to identify merchandisable elements in new shows and develop licensing plans to generate brand support for new and established properties beyond the core franchises that are already part of Warner Bros. Consumer Products' strong portfolio.

"Maryellen's strength in executing creative launch strategies will be a valuable asset for nurturing new and existing properties to their complete licensing potential," McTier said. "Her extensive background combined with her licensing vision will be great attributes in developing and implementing tactical plans for our television properties across every category."

Zarakas joins Warner Bros. Consumer Products after a decade of licensing experience with Disney Consumer Products, where her last role was vice president of global toys and retail. In her position, she created retail and consumer marketing plans for toy products in North America for all Disney properties.

Prior to her positions with Disney Consumer Products, Zarakas spent five years analyzing market trends and organizing product development programs as a buyer and department manager for Bloomingdale's. Zarakas holds a bachelor's degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.