Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
‘Harry Potter’ Agent The Blair Partnership Taps Merlin’s Will Obbard, Amazon’s Alex Flanagan for Senior Roles as It Eyes New Growth Phase (EXCLUSIVE)
The Blair Partnership has appointed Will Obbard and Alex Flanagan to senior roles as it plans a new phase of growth. The appointments are intended to strengthen the firm’s leadership and help it find new commercial opportunities for its clients and intellectual property.
Obbard, formerly a partnerships executive at Merlin Entertainments, will lead a five-year growth strategy focused on partnerships, new franchises and acquisitions. Flanagan, who became group general counsel earlier this year, joins from Amazon’s global media and entertainment division, where she handled licensing, policy and regulatory matters. The firm represents “Harry Potter”, The Wombles and the world of “Peter Pan”; a new “Harry Potter” screen version is due on HBO and HBO Max this Christmas.
In short
- The Blair Partnership named two senior executives.
- Obbard will lead its five-year growth strategy.
- Flanagan brings experience from Amazon and Universal Music Group.
Explained simply
The Blair Partnership is an agency that represents authors, creators and the rights to stories and characters. Those rights can be used in books, films, merchandise and other commercial partnerships.
Its clients and properties include Harry Potter, The Wombles and Peter Pan. Will Obbard’s background in partnerships and Alex Flanagan’s experience in media, licensing and regulation are relevant to a business seeking to develop and manage those rights.
The firm’s work matters because popular stories can reach audiences in many forms, while their owners and representatives negotiate how they are used. A new screen adaptation of Harry Potter is planned for HBO and HBO Max, bringing renewed attention to one of the properties the firm represents.
Art Business Companies Culture