Turner Asia Pacific has appointed Eric Lee to head up its location based entertainment (LBE) business for Cartoon Network Enterprises in the region.
Lee will be responsible for identifying opportunities to develop experiences allied to Cartoon Network’s IPs across waterparks, theme parks, branded retail and entertainment spaces.
Lee’s previous roles have included positions at Jack Rouse Associates and JBJ Associates and most recently as Director for Global LBE for Rovio Entertainment in Europe, where he was responsible for leading projects such as the first ever Angry Birds 4D film and Angry Birds VR experience.
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) develops Turner’s licensing and merchandising arm for well-known brands such as The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, We Bare Bears and Adventure Time other youth-focused brands including Tuzki. This new appointment reinforces Turner’s strategy to develop more LBE initiatives in Asia and Turner’s broader aims to be increasingly consumer and IP focussed.
Recent LBE successes include Cartoon Network Amazone waterpark in Thailand, a Tuzki-themed restaurant in Shanghai, and the first of a series of Cartoon Network retail stores in Seoul. In Dubai IMG Worlds of Adventure will include a Cartoon Network themed zone and in a number of other Asian markets, LBE projects in the pipeline include Family Entertainment Centers and Retail-Dining-Entertainment experiences.
Commenting on the announcement, Clément Schwebig, Turner Asia Pacific’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and oversees CNE, said, “Eric is a talented and experienced individual who will straight away look to forge strategic relationships with local partners that will enable us to engage existing fans and win over new ones. LBE and the themed attraction business has huge potential for growth in Asia Pacific, and Cartoon Network’s world-famous franchises are well-loved by kids and families across the region.”
