Licensing International has selected eight up-and-comers in the global licensing industry to receive 2024 Global Rising Star Awards at a gala scheduled on December 4 in New York. 

This year’s Rising Star winners are: 

• Gemma Hay, manager of global franchise marketing at Mattel
• Joseph Yap, brands & licensing manager at BBC Studios (Singapore) 
• Greg Carty, licensing manager at NFL Players
• Teresa Curtis, senior manager of licensing & business development at Jay Franco and Sons
• Oliver Gilding, head of innovation & licensing at Iceland Foods
• David Jolly, marketing & communications manager at Le Petit Prince Licensing
• Abhishek Kumar, head of design & brand assurance at Bradford License India
• Wei Jie Sun, licensing director at Alifish

Among them, Hay (pictured, right) and Yap (pictured, left) are the most focused on kids. Hay started at Mattel EMEA in 2020, initially working on the action figure portfolios of licensors including Disney and Universal, and then later managing the Thomas & Friends and Fireman Sam franchises in EMEA. 

Yap implements licensing strategies for BBC Studios brands such as Bluey and Hey Duggee across Asia. A major focus for him has been Bluey’s growth in that region. 

Each award comes with a year of mentorship with a seasoned industry veteran, plus networking opportunities with past Rising Star winners. Nominees must be 35 or younger, with three to seven years of licensing experience.