Authentic Brands Group hired Lim Mi-Kyoung as senior vice president and head of Australia and New Zealand, according to a press release last week.
In the role, Mi-Kyoung will be responsible for Authentic’s regional expansion and will focus on brand development and driving growth. Mi-Kyoung will be Authentic’s first Australia-based employee and will build a team to broaden the company's portfolio in the region.
“As our business continues to grow across the region, we are bringing in top talent to usher our brands and open the door to new opportunities to launch new categories and distribution channels,” Wesley Chu, executive vice president of APAC for Authentic, said in the release. “Lim brings an extensive track record of driving brand value and building lasting relationships with best-in-class manufacturers and retailers. We are excited about the impact she will have on our portfolio as we unlock the value of our brands in this untapped market.”
Mi-Kyoung was most recently with Australia-based brand marketing and licensing agency WP Brands as a managing director, according to her LinkedIn profile. She had been with WP since 2006. She also held leadership roles at Gaffney Licensing and Hallmark Australia. In her career, she’s managed several brands including Pokémon, Discovery, Netflix, Cartoon Network, Paramount and Universal Studios, among others.
“[Authentic’s] commitment to innovation and brand stewardship aligns with my passion for establishing partnerships that drive long-term brand value,” Mi-Kyoung said in the release. “I look forward to leveraging my experience in the regional brand landscape to oversee the expansion of Authentic’s presence and to cultivate a team of like-minded individuals dedicated to brand development excellence.”
Authentic owns a portfolio of more than 50 entertainment and lifestyle brands, including Eddie Bauer, Frye, Reebok and Nautica. Earlier this year, Authentic bought footwear and lifestyle brand Sperry from Wolverine World Wide for $70 million.
