RWS Global, a leading producer of live experiences, has announced two new key appointments as the firm continues to expand its global reach.
Veronica Hart has taken a seat on the Board of Directors, and Danielle Tanton joins the firm as director, business development.
Veronica Hart
Hart has more than 25 years of experience as a cross-disciplinary business leader, and has successfully driven sales, operations, and licensing for international corporations. She will serve as a trustee for the organisation, providing oversight and due diligence on the overall performance of the firm while using her expertise to guide the business’s initiatives to unlock new income potential through large-scale IPs.
She formerly served in executive positions at Paramount, HIT Entertainment, Sesame Workshop, The Jim Henson Company, CBS Studios, and CBS Consumer Products, where she established the company’s first franchise division. Hart also managed publicity for The Muppets at the Jim Henson Company, as well as PR and marketing for Sony Wonder.
Over her career, she has developed her expertise in operations, creative, marketing, global licensing, franchise planning, and directing strategic planning, brand positioning, retail, and marketing initiatives in significant markets.
Ryan Stana, chairman and CEO of RWS Global, says: “We are thrilled to welcome Veronica to our board. Her passion for fandom and her deep knowledge of the licensing industry will be invaluable assets as we expand our offerings globally and strengthen our position in the market.”
Hart comments: “I am excited to join the team at RWS Global and help further elevate their global position as leaders in live entertainment and continue to push boundaries and deliver unforgettable experiences to fans around the world.”
Hart recently established HARTstring Entertainment, which offers strategic assistance for brand building, business development, and marketing to help partners maximize their commercial impact. She is currently the chair-elect of the Board for Licensing International, the official trade association at the heart of the multibillion-dollar global licensing community.
RWS Global, based in New York City, London, and Cincinnati, offers design, technical, casting, and operating services for live events, exhibits, and brand attractions. The organisation has collaborated with a variety of brands and companies, including Apple, Coca-Cola, Crayola, The “FRIENDS” Experience, Warner Bros., and Disney’s “The Lion King” on Broadway.
Danielle Tanton
As director, business development, Tanton will draw on her significant IP-themed entertainment licensing expertise to support RWS Global’s business development and strengthen its partnerships as it expands globally.
Tanton is based at RWS Global’s UK headquarters and has been working in the themed entertainment sector for more than 13 years. Her experience includes positions at Mattel, Paramount, and Entertainment One. She was most recently the head of licencing at The Path Entertainment Group, where she oversaw the international sub-licensing of Monopoly Lifesized, the SAW: Escape Experience, and the Paddington Bear Experience, which opens in London later this month.
She has also licenced experiences and managed accounts for numerous major IPs including Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount, Channel 5’s Milkshake!, Teletubbies, Peppa Pig, and Thomas & Friends.
Rochelle Wilhelm, VP, business development, RWS Global, says: “We are thrilled to welcome Danielle to our team and are confident that she will play a pivotal role in shaping our global business strategies and contributing to our overall growth.”
Tanton shares: “I am delighted to be joining the business development team at RWS Global, representing an incredible breadth of capabilities. Contributing to RWS Global’s impressive history of projects, I look forward to supporting the expansion of the business on land and at sea.”
Tanton is currently president-elect for the Themed Entertainment Association Europe and Middle East (TEA EME) Divisional Board after 6.5 years of service, and she will serve as president for two years beginning in 2025. Further recognitions include being named an Inside Out Award finalist, an MBS Woman to Watch in Hospitality, and a LIMA International Rising Star.
In her role as director, business development, Tanton will be based in the UK and will support business development opportunities throughout the RWS Global portfolio. Her remit includes show production, seasonal installations, master planning and design, brand toolkits, costume design, casting, operations, retail development, and more.
Tanton will be attending the forthcoming SEA Expo, which is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 7 to 9 May, and TEA SATE Europe, which will be held at Gardaland Park, Italy, from 14 to 17 May. To book a meeting, please contact newbusiness@rwsglobal.com.
Last month, RWS Global announced that Lisa Jey Schanley has been appointed as JRA’s director of business development. She will play a vital role in guiding the firm’s expansion across a range of markets and will spearhead the strategic development of an extended range of offerings to suit both new and current clients. Schanley brings extensive expertise to her new position having spent over two decades working in business development, growth strategies, marketing, and PR.
