About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment's Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America and Japan, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations. HIT also acts as a worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company's library of classic family brands and as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK.
Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing, live events and attractions and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. HIT is a part-owner of US preschool channel, PBS KIDS Sprout℠, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China).
For more information, visit http://www.hitentertainment.com.
Rick Glankler
Vice President, Licensing, HIT Entertainment
Rick Glankler, Vice President, Licensing, HIT Entertainment has more than 14 years of Brand experience in entertainment, toy and consumer packaged goods, licensing and product development. In his current role, Mr. Glankler oversees all consumer products licensing for the Company's portfolio of world-class preschool brands, including Bob the Builder™, Barney™, Thomas & Friends, and Angelina Ballerina™.
In his tenure at HIT, Mr. Glanker has been instrumental in leading Thomas & Friends to eight consecutive years of double digit growth and was responsible for Bob the Builder's US consumer products strategy, forging the master toy licensing agreement for this brand.
Previously, Mr. Glankler served as Director, Hard Goods Licensing for HIT Entertainment. In this role, he developed and implemented product category strategies across all HIT brands and led both domestic and global toy partner relationships. Additionally, Mr. Glankler served as Brand Director for Bob the Builder.
Prior to joining HIT, Mr. Glankler served as Senior Brand Manager, RC2. In this role, he managed new product development and integrated marketing campaigns for leading preschool licensees.
Mr. Glankler began his career in sales and marketing development for Frito Lay.
Mr. Glankler received his BS from Indiana University.
