PLBY Group sales hit by D2C: Lim Mi-Kyoung’s appointment as Senior Vice President and Head of Australia and New Zealand by Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a major milestone in the company’s strategy for expanding into the area. Mi-Kyoung will become the first employee of Authentic in Australia. She will be responsible for leading the brand’s expansion in the region, assembling a team of industry specialists, and ensuring the brand’s development and growth over the long term.

The recruitment of Mi-Kyoung was met with confidence by Wesley Chu, Authentic’s Executive Vice President of APAC. Chu praised Mi-Kyoung’s background in building partnerships with manufacturers and retailers and her ability to drive brand value. Chu stressed the need to hire top personnel in order to take advantage of emerging prospects in the region to establish new categories and distribution channels.

With more than 25 years of expertise, Mi-Kyoung is a formidable force in the branded entertainment industry. With extensive experience in leadership roles at Hallmark Australia, Gaffney Licensing, and WP companies, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the table when it comes to overseeing well-known companies like Pokémon, Discovery, Netflix, Cartoon Network, and Warner Bros. As part of WP Brands’ candidacy for Top Women-Led Brand Licensing Agency, she was recently acknowledged by License Global.

Mi-Kyoung raved about how excited she was to be joining Authentic, praising the company’s dedication to innovation and brand stewardship, which she said matched her own enthusiasm for building collaborations that boost brands over the long run. She is excited to use her knowledge of regional brand landscapes to grow Authentic’s presence in ANZ and build a team committed to top-notch brand development.

With a substantial retail footprint in 150 countries, the brands owned by Authentic Brands Group bring in over $29 billion in yearly sales. Reebok, Ted Baker, Hunter, Vince, Lucky Brand, Aéropostale, Forever 21, Nine West, and countless more are among the brands included in its portfolio. The appointment of Mi-Kyoung highlights Authentic’s determination to increase its footprint and solidify its brand position in important markets.