Michael Francis is stepping down as DreamWorks Animations’s chief global brand officer, the company announced Wednesday. He is expected to continue working with DWA as an external consultant.
While DWA does not plan to appoint a new chief global brand officer, Jim Fielding, head of global consumer products, will take on added responsibilities overseeing the company’s licensing and franchise management businesses. He will report directly to DWA President Ann Daly.
Francis, who will continue to serve as a board member for AwesomenessTV, has overseen DWA’s branding, licensing, consumer products and franchise management efforts since 2003. Before that, he was the founder of Farview Associates, a global brand agency. Previous to that, he was president of J.C. Penney, where he oversaw marketing, merchandising, design and global sourcing. And earlier in his career, he spent 26 years with the Target Corporation, ultimately serving as Global Chief Marketing Officer.
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In a joint statement, DWA CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and Daly said: “We are grateful to Michael for his tireless work over the past three years and hope to continue benefiting from his counsel as we continue to build and leverage our brand within each of our business lines. Michael built a strong internal organization, led by Jim Fielding and others, that will enable us to drive growth in these keys areas in the future. We wish Michael all the best in what will be an exciting new chapter in his career.”
Said Francis, “I’m incredibly grateful to Jeffrey, Ann and the entire team at DreamWorks Animation for entrusting me with one of the world’s most iconic brands. I’ve determined that this is the right move for me both personally and professionally. I’m excited to resume my own business while also planning to continue working with the talented DWA team to help ensure the ascendancy of the brand.”
