On the same day that THQ scored a multi-year licensing agreement with DreamWorks, the publisher announced today that it's hired Germaine Gioia as its new senior vice president, licensing and merchandising, effective immediately. Gioia is back on familiar stomping grounds, having led THQ's licensing business for 14 years in the past. Now she will work along with Josh Austin to assist each of THQ’s business units in their licensing and merchandising efforts.
“We are pleased to welcome Germaine back to THQ. She will play an integral role in both securing new intellectual properties for THQ as well as expanding the merchandising opportunities for our own brands,” said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ.
Added Gioia, “I am excited to return to a well-positioned and highly focused THQ. Today’s market offers many new opportunities for growth and I look forward to helping the THQ team build our portfolio of intellectual properties and broaden the exposure of our brands across entertainment mediums and other relevant markets.”
Gioia has close to 20 years of game industry experience. In addition to working with THQ for 14 years, most recently she served as senior vice president, licensing for Capcom Entertainment in the US and European territories for the past three years, where she oversaw and secured merchandising partnerships for Capcom’s franchises, spanning electronics, apparel, book and music publishing, toy, home furnishings, promotion and media. She also secured intellectual property procurement across game platforms.
