National Geographic Partners has named two new executives to its Consumer Products and Experiences division. Juan Gutierrez has been appointed Senior Vice President of Consumer Products and Live Events, overseeing global licensing and location based entertainment. Cynthia Rapp has been named as Senior Vice President of Creative and will lead the development of the division’s creative strategy and execution, in alignment with National Geographic Partners’ overall marketing strategy. Gutierrez and Rapp will both report to Rosa Zeegers, Executive Vice President of Consumer Products and Experiences.
“National Geographic is one of the world’s most trusted brands, touching over 730 million consumers in 171 countries every month,” said Zeegers. “Both Juan and Cynthia will be essential to extending the brand’s reach and value to consumer products and experiences relevant to National Geographic and translating that into new areas that deliver products and experiences to our global audience. They bring a stellar track record of working with premium brands to enhance their presence across consumer-facing businesses, and I am confident that we will benefit tremendously from their extensive experience.”
Gutierrez has dedicated his career to building consumer products and brand extension businesses around the world. He joins National Geographic after spending 19 years at Mattel where he led licensing for several brands, regions and business lines. In his most recent role as Vice President of Consumer Products at Mattel, Gutierrez was responsible for restructuring Mattel’s international agent network and launching its Live Events and Experiences business. Before Mattel, Gutierrez was General Manager, Mexico, at NBA Properties, Inc., opening their first satellite office in Mexico City to represent and manage all operations in the country including consumer products, special events, sponsorships, broadcasting rights, partnerships and public relations. Gutierrez started his career at LA Gear, Inc. where he established their distributor and licensee network throughout the Americas.
Rapp comes to National Geographic with extensive experience in brand and creative development across a myriad of industries including entertainment, beauty, and fashion. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President, Global Creative and Product Development at Saban Brands. Prior to Saban, she was Senior Vice President of Creative at Fox Consumer Products and Chief Marketing Officer at Stila Cosmetics where she led brand strategy, advertising, online, social media, creative and public relations. Before her role at Stila, Rapp was a Vice President for Cartoon Network Enterprises, the licensing and merchandising division arm of the network. At Cartoon Network, Rapp was responsible for translating the network’s original series into consumer products programs. She has also previously served as Vice President, Consumer Products and Brand Image for Mattel and as Creative Director for fashion and beauty companies including L’Oreal, Liz Claiborne and Calvin Klein.
About National Geographic Partners LLC
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
Media Contacts
Meg Calnan
National Geographic
meg.calnan@natgeo.com
(202) 912-6703