Breyer Appoints DreamWorks Vets as Company Plans for Growth
Breyer has named Rick Rekedal as executive vice-president of brand and business development, as the company plans to grow its retail, licensing and consumer-driven business.
In more than 20 years at DreamWorks Animation, Rekedal spearheaded cross-company initiatives to launch such hits as the recent film and merchandising franchise Trolls. Rekedal also developed global licensing, interactive and retail programs for such franchises as How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and the animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
Rekedal joins Breyer with a vision to develop the classic model horse brand into a broad lifestyle franchise, positioning Breyer for growth through expanded product categories, content development initiatives, licensing, and retail partnerships.
To help develop the brand, Breyer has also appointed Rhion Magee as vice-president of creative. Magee worked with Rekedal for 12 years at DreamWorks Animation as creative director, including development of the licensing style guide for Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Magee then moved to NBCUniversal’s TV division, and from there joined Twentieth Century Fox, where she was creative director of global consumer products. She helped reinvigorate Fox’s classic library, including films starring Marilyn Monroe, and also worked on current film and TV properties.
Reeves International is the parent company of Breyer.
Fred Rogers Company Names Literary Scout
The Fred Rogers Company has appointed Rachel Hecht Children’s Scouting as its literary scout for television. This is the first time that The Fred Rogers Company has retained a scout. Rachel Hecht will source and advise on children’s book properties for potential development into television.
Hecht established her agency in 2016 after 10 years working across children’s publishing. Rachel Hecht Children’s Scouting is the first and only children’s and Young Adult-focused scouting agency in the U.S.