Board of Directors
Neil Cole is an innovator in the licensing and brand management industry and the Chief Executive Officer and President of Iconix Brand Group, Inc.
Cole began his career at El Greco, Inc., the footwear company that launched the globally recognized junior brand, Candie's. In 1985, Cole left El Greco and founded his first licensing company, New Retail Concepts and introduced No Excuses, a denim based brand known for its irreverent advertising. In 1991, Cole sold No Excuses and bought back El Greco, Inc., merging the two companies to form Candie's, Inc. In July of 2005, Cole made a strategic decision to leverage the Company's licensing and marketing expertise by divesting itself of its operating businesses and Candie's, Inc. became Iconix Brand Group, Inc. Over the next few years, Iconix Brand Group acquired iconic brands such as; London Fog, Ocean Pacific, Joe Boxer, Mossimo and Cannon.
Today, Iconix Brand Group has a diversified portfolio of fashion, home and character based brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the United States and worldwide. The Company creates consumer awareness and equity for its 27 iconic consumer brands: Candie's, Bongo, Badgley Mischka, Joe Boxer, Rampage, Mudd, London Fog, Mossimo, Ocean Pacific, Danskin, Danksin Now, Rocawear, Cannon, Royal Velvet, Fieldcrest, Charisma, Starter, Waverly and Ed Hardy. In addition, Iconix owns an interest in the Artful Dodger, Ecko, Marc Ecko, ZOO York, Material Girl, Peanuts and Snoopy brands.
Forbes Magazine has credited Iconix Brand Group as one of "The Best Companies In America" and License Magazine has listed Iconix for two consecutive years as the second largest licensing Company in the world, following Disney Consumer Products. Iconix Brand Group continues to grow with $12 billion in global annual retail sales. The unique brand management business model positions Iconix as a pioneer in the industry with specialization in licensing, marketing and brand management.
In 2001, Cole founded The Candie's Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to educate America's youth about the devastating consequences of teenage pregnancy and creates a national dialogue on the issue. Cole is the Chairman of the Iconix Board of Directors, a member of Governor Cuomo's SAGE Commission, and a member of Board of Directors of The Candie's Foundation, The Mount Sinai Children's Center Foundation, Crutches 4 Kids and Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School. Cole received a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the University of Florida in 1978 and his Juris Doctor from Hofstra law school in 1982.
Barry Emanuel has served on our Board since May 1993. For more than the past five years, Mr. Emanuel has served as president of Copen Associates, Inc., a textile manufacturer located in New York, New York. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1962.
Drew Cohen has served on our Board since April 2004. Since 2007 he has been the President of Music Theatre International, which represents the dramatic performing rights of classic properties, such as "West Side Story" and "Fiddler on the Roof," and licenses over 50,000 performances a year around the world. Before joining Music Theatre International in September 2002, Mr. Cohen was, from July 2001, the Director of Investments for Big Wave NV, an investment management company, and, prior to that, General Manager for GlassNote Records, an independent record company. Mr. Cohen received a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University in 1990, his Juris Doctor degree from Fordham Law School in 1993, and a Masters degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 2001.
F. Peter Cuneo has served on our Board since October 2006. From June 2004 through December 2009 Mr. Cuneo served as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. ("Marvel Entertainment"), a publicly traded entertainment company active in motion pictures, television, publishing, licensing and toys, and prior thereto, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Marvel Entertainment from July 1999 to December 2002. Mr. Cuneo has also served as the Chairman of Cuneo & Co., L.L.C., a private investment firm, since July 1997 and previously served on the Board of Directors of WaterPik Technologies, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange company engaged in designing, manufacturing and marketing health care products, swimming pool products and water-heating systems, prior to its sale in 2006. From October 2004 to December 2005, he served on the Board of Directors of Majesco Entertainment Company, a provider of video game products primarily for the family oriented, mass market consumer. Mr. Cuneo received a Bachelor of Science degree from Alfred University in 1967 and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Alfred University Board of Trustees. Mr. Cuneo received a Masters degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1973.
Mark Friedman has served on our Board since October 2006. Mr. Friedman has been the Managing Partner of The Retail Tracker, an investment and consulting firm, since May 2006. Previously, beginning in 1996, Mr. Friedman was with Merrill Lynch, serving in various capacities including, most recently, as group head of its U.S. equity research retail team where he specialized in analyzing and evaluating specialty retailers in the apparel, accessory and home goods segments. Prior thereto, he specialized in similar services for Lehman Brothers Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Friedman has been ranked on the Institutional Investor All-American Research Team as one of the top-rated sector analysts and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan in 1986 and a Masters degree in business administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in 1990.
James Marcum has served on our Board since October 2007. Since February 2010, he has been the Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the board of Central Parking Corporation, a nationwide provider of professional parking management. From September 2008 to January 2010, Mr. Marcum served as Vice Chairman, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of Circuit City Stores, Inc., a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, home office products and entertainment software. Mr. Marcum has served as a member of the board of directors of Circuit City Stores, Inc. since June 2008. Circuit City Stores, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in November 2008. He is a limited partner of Tri-Artisan Capital Partners, LLC, a merchant banking firm, and served as an operating partner and operating executive of Tri-Artisan Capital Partners from 2004 until March 2008. From January 2005 to January 2006, he served in various capacities, including chief executive officer and director, of Ultimate Electronics, Inc., a consumer electronics retailer. Prior thereto, Mr. Marcum has served in various senior executive capacities for a variety of nationwide specialty retailers. He received a Bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University in accounting and economics in 1980.
Laurence Charney has served on our Board since February 2011. Since August 2008, Mr. Charney has served as a private consultant to financial and accounting firms. Previously, from 1970 through June 2007, Mr. Charney was employed by Ernst & Young, LLP, a registered public accounting firm, retiring as a partner. Mr. Charney currently serves as a director of Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies, Inc., a private company involved in the development and franchising of retail stores, which sell cookies and other bakery products in the United States and internationally. In addition, Mr. Charney previously served as a director and audit committee member of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., XTL Bio-Pharmaceuticals Ltd., and Pure Biofuels, Inc. Mr. Charney graduated with a BBA degree from Hofstra University and completed the Executive MBA in Business program at Columbia University.