NEWS RELEASE
SPERBER NAMED PRESIDENT OF
UNIVERSAL PARTNERSHIPS AND LICENSING (UP&L)
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA, February 16, 2010 – Stephanie Sperber has been named President Universal Partnerships and Licensing (UP&L) for Universal Studios it was announced today by Universal Pictures Chairman Adam Fogelson and Co-Chairman Donna Langley. Under Sperber’s leadership, UP&L has secured innovative promotions, licensing agreements and corporate alliances across all divisions of Universal Studios with some of the world’s best known brands and corporations including American Express, Burger King, Kellogg’s, Cartier, Xerox, Sharp, Coca-Cola, Best Buy, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hallmark and more.
“Stephanie’s highly creative approach to working with our partners and licensees has amounted to significant revenue and marketing support for Universal,” said Fogelson. “As businesses of all kinds continue to face the challenges of an ever-evolving marketplace, Stephanie brings her unique ability to connect brands with Universal entertainment in meaningful ways across all platforms, whether it be through long-term strategic alliances or film-specific promotions, creating real value for all parties.”
UP&L is a unique entertainment marketing division that provides a single point of entry for global brands looking to access Universal content and platforms, including theatrical promotions, product placement, traditional and digital licensing of current and library titles, retail promotions and long-term strategic partnerships. UP&L has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and marketing support to the studio while providing brands meaningful exposure to worldwide audiences through films, DVDs and theme park activation.
Sperber has led UP&L as Executive Vice President since its creation in 2009 joining the studio’s retail focused Consumer Products Group with the division known as Universal Studios Partnerships (USP). Prior to that, she led Universal Studios Partnerships as Executive Vice President since 2005.
Before joining Universal, Sperber was Executive Director, Marketing at Turner Broadcasting, overseeing the brand marketing for Hanna-Barbera Productions. During her tenure she managed the consumer launches of numerous television shows as well as the re-launches of classic cartoon brands including “The New Adventures of Jonny Quest,” “The Flintstones,” “Scooby Doo” and “The Jetsons.”
Prior to beginning her entertainment industry career, Sperber worked in the United States Senate Judiciary Committee’s communications office and served as a speechwriter for then Chairman Senator Joseph Biden.
Sperber is a member of the board of trustees at The Country School in Los Angeles, is on the advisory board for First Star, the See Jane organization and the Salk International Council at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies. She graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a BA in Political Science.
About Universal Pictures
Universa l Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.
CONTACT:
Kori Bernards
818.777.7216 / kori.bernards@nbcuni.com
