actualité

Paris, Los Angeles, London, 7 September 2006: Taffy Entertainment, the brand management company for leading children's and animation company MoonScoop and US-based independent animation studio Mike Young Productions (MYP), is further expanding its licensing business with a major new corporate appointment.

Licensing veteran Cynthia Money is joining the Taffy team as President, Worldwide Consumer Products with a remit to build the consumer awareness and innovative marketing platforms for all the company's award winning brands. Money will be based in Los Angeles.

This appointment demonstrates Taffy's commitment to building well managed merchandising and marketing programs as well as full creative development in support of retail presence for its properties. It follows hot on the heels of the establishment of a UK office by Taffy Entertainment and the appointment of leading European licensing veteran Louise O'Toole as its Managing Director, who joined Taffy's US VP of Licensing Eric Stein and Paris-based Marketing Manager Sebastien Fillion on the Licensing and Marketing team.

Axel Dauchez, CEO MoonScoop Group said: "Marketing and Consumer Products is a key focus for us and it was imperative to appoint someone with extensive experience and a strong track record. We're delighted to welcome Cynthia, who is the perfect addition to the team. Her strong results oriented experience and enthusiastic personal style will be invaluable to our business, as we look to solidify the presence of our programming brands in all of the commercial arenas around the world."

"Cynthia has a vision for the way that programming and consumer products can complement one another, as well as the proven management skills to execute that vision. With her addition, we have a team of the highest calibre in place which will spearhead our growth as we take the business on to an exciting new level and provide the highest level of service for our partners," according to MYP/Taffy co-CEO's Mike Young and Bill Schultz.

"I am very excited to be joining the outstanding group of individuals that have worked so hard creating Taffy's success. I have dedicated my career to creating brand strategies which bridge the entire media mix from broadcast to publishing, consumer products and all key ancillary platforms. I look forward to bringing these skills to Taffy's vast and exciting wealth of content," commented Money.

With over 20 years of senior level experience in licensing, marketing and intellectual property development, Ms Money comes to Taffy directly from a highly successful position as Vice President at VIZ Media. While at VIZ, she was responsible for all licensing, marketing, merchandising, and retail development activities in the U.S. and Canada for their Consumer Products Group.





Under her leadership, the group quadrupled revenues and was named a "Top 100 Licensor"*. She developed and established licensing programs for the Group's growing roster of leading media properties including Shonen Jump Naruto (Cartoon Network), and was instrumental in developing an exclusive retail promotion with Hot Topic which was singled out as one of the "Best Retail Promotions"* for 2005.

In addition, Cynthia managed successful merchandising programs for brands such as Inuyasha (Cartoon Network), Deko Boko Friends (Nickelodeon), Sonic X (4Kids TV), Sonic and Zatch Bell! (Cartoon Network), with an active roster of over 100 licensees.

Taffy Entertainment has one of the leading kids' and family entertainment libraries, encompassing some of the most successful properties and best-loved animated creations in the global television market. Her first priorities will be in managing the current key brands, red-hot Code Lyoko, ToddWorld (UK & France), Titeuf, and Pet Alien, as well as strategizing the launches of brand new properties Mix Master: King of Cards, Sam-Sam, Dive Olly Dive! , Growing Up Creepie, and I Got A Rocket!. Other key titles in Taffy's distribution library include The Fantastic Four, Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, and Doctor Dog.

*Awarded by License! Magazine

For further information please contact:
For Taffy Entertainment/MoonScoop
Aimee Norman at Blueprint PR Ltd.: Tel + 44 (0) 20 7354 9813
Email: aimee@blueprintpr.co.uk

For Taffy Entertainment/Mike Young Productions
Neil Dickens, WTD Communications: Tel + (001) 323 463 2882
Email: ndickens@wtd-pr.com

Notes to editors:
About Taffy Entertainment

TAFFY ENTERTAINMENT is the worldwide distribution, brand management and family entertainment company which represents properties from well-known animation producers Mike Young Productions (MYP) and MoonScoop, as well as select properties from third parties. With offices in Paris, Los Angeles and London and Wales, the company has fully integrated production, distribution and licensing facilities, as well as a library that includes over 2,800 half hours of animation. Its series are seen on leading broadcast networks in over 160 countries around the world.

For further information, please visit: http://www.taffyentertainment.com