Aiming to expand and focus its consumer products presence in EMEA, NBCUniversal Brand Development has appointed Jonathan Baker (pictured) as VP of EMEA, and Hannah Mungo as country director for the UK and Ireland.

Mungo, who previously served as head of UK licensing at Entertainment One, will be responsible for strategic direction, business development and the management of licensees and retailers in the UK and Ireland. Formerly the head of international licensing for DreamWorks Animation UK, Baker will be responsible for driving new areas of growth in EMEA.

These appointments reflect the company’s goal of establishing in-country consumer products teams. Beginning January 1, NBCUniversal will shift to managing its businesses in the UK and Ireland directly, with a similar transition planned for France, Benelux, Germany, Italy and Iberia in the following six months.

NBCUniversal Brand Development recently established an EMEA central office in London in response to the tremendous growth of its IP portfolio following the US$3.8-billion acquisition of DreamWorks Animation by parentco Comcast earlier this year. Beyond EMEA, it has also set up new regional offices in both Japan and China.