David Born has been named in License Global’s 40 under 40!
Born Licensing’s Owner and Director, David Born, has been featured in License Global’s annual The Influentials report, this year celebrating 40 under 40.
We are delighted to see David’s name on License Global’s The Influential report this year. The report profiles 40 licensing professionals under the age of 40 who are making an impact across the industry.
David’s approach has always been forward-thinking and about putting his clients first, it’s an approach that we use daily here at Born. His knowledge of the industry and extensive experience gave him the confidence to take a different and better approach with Born and the projects we’ve worked on prove its success.
David has worked in the entertainment industry for over 14 years and has an in depth understanding of what’s required to make an advertising campaign a true success. He’s the former Head of Licensing for FMCG & Promotions EMEA at Cartoon Network and was Manager of FMCG & Promotions at Warner Bros Australia. Throughout his career he has worked with a strong portfolio of clients including: Parmalat, Boost Juice, Colgate, Johnson & Johnson, National Foods, McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, and Parmalat.
David’s ability to pass on his expanding knowledge and expertise to the rest of the team means we are implicitly trusted by some of the biggest advertising agencies and brands across all markets.
Most importantly, David always makes sure that Born Licensing is not just a licensing agency. We are there from the beginning to make sure the campaign vision has the highest chance of success. We do research, make creative suggestions, negotiate terms and we’re there throughout production should we be needed.
“The names in the pages of this year’s The Influentials report are those that will be the headlines of tomorrow”, says Amanda Cioletti, content director at License Global. “We are excited to shine a light on these individuals and identify those that will change the business in the years to come.”
The names on the list include licensing professionals from Paramount Pictures, IMG, BBC, Studios, Endemol Shine, WWE, Rovio, CAA-GBG, The Jim Henson Company, Entertainment One, Netflix, Twentieth Century Fox, NBC Universal and many more. It’s fantastic to see Born’s leader in amongst the industries best talent.
David said, “this list is packed with incredibly talented young professionals who are shaping the future of the licensing industry… it is truly an honour to be part of this list, and to be recognized for Born Licensing’s innovative approach to the licensing business.”
The feature also included a round of questions for the name Influencials, here are David’s answers:
How did you break into licensing?
I came across a job advertisement for Haven Licensing (now Haven Global) in Melbourne. At the job interview, I remember walking into a room with SpongeBob SquarePants in the corner. I thought to myself, “I want to work here!”
Proudest moment of your career so far?
At the 2018 International Licensing Awards, we won for Best Licensed Promotion. It was an honour to be recognised by the industry for the work that we do at Born Licensing
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Born Licensing will be approaching its 15th birthday. I expect to be doing exactly what I’m doing now, but on a bigger scale.
Did you have a mentor? If so, who was that and how did they influence your career trajectory?
At Warner Bros. Australia, I had the privilege of reporting to managing director Preston Kevin Lewis. He allowed me to grow, and he was the first person I called for advice before starting Born Licensing.
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
The ability to fly. I could travel for business and visit family in Australia and Brazil without jetlag.
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE >
Born Licensing is launching its Character Licensing Workshop series to help agencies confidently navigate the world of entertainment IP, turning a complex process into a clear, practical creative opportunity. Designed for creatives, producers and business affairs teams, the sessions demystify character licensing and unlock its full potential in advertising.
In a digital world where fraudsters rely on urgency, panic and split-second decisions, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause. That's the thinking behind Take9's new "Count Before You Click" campaign, which enlists one of the world's most recognisable number enthusiasts: Sesame Street's Count von Count. Created in partnership with Sesame Workshop and developed by Bully Pulpit International (BPI), the campaign uses the beloved character to encourage consumers to take a simple nine-second pause before responding to suspicious online messages, emails or alerts.
Another year, another hugely successful week at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas — and if this year proved anything, it’s that the licensing industry continues to thrive. From entertainment and gaming to fashion, publishing and experiential, the appetite for character-driven storytelling and brand partnerships feels stronger than ever.
We’re pleased to share that “It’s Pixel, actually” — our campaign with Google Pixel and Love Actually — has been nominated for Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Licensed Brand at the 2026 Licensing International Excellence Awards.
Born Licensing is launching its UK Character Workshop series to help agencies confidently navigate the world of entertainment IP, turning a complex process into a clear, practical creative opportunity. Designed for creatives, producers and business affairs teams, the sessions demystify character licensing and unlock its full potential in advertising.
Launched under Twix’s new global brand platform, “Two is More Than One,” the campaign invites audiences to reflect on a simple question: when else is one good, but two is better?
Optimism without irony, humour without edge. Paddington offers brands something rare in modern advertising: trust. Here's why the bear from Peru is a natural for brand storytelling.
Born Licensing is proud to announce that we now represent Mr. Men Little Miss as licensing agents in the advertising and marketing space, working alongside Sanrio to bring the iconic characters into bold, personality-led brand storytelling. With over 50 years of cultural relevance, the brand offers a powerful, playful way for advertisers to connect with audiences through instantly recognisable character and emotion.
Few characters in children’s storytelling have achieved the cultural reach of The Gruffalo. First published in 1999, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s instantly recognisable creation has become a true modern classic, adored by families around the world. Together with The Gruffalo’s Child, the books have sold more than 38 million copies globally, been published in 107 languages, and earned a permanent place in the collective imagination.
From multiple 5.9-star System1 campaigns to record-breaking festive launches, Born Licensing explores why character-led storytelling remains one of the most effective tools in Christmas advertising.
There are few comedy duos as universally recognised or as timelessly beloved as Laurel & Hardy. From slapstick silent shorts in the late 1920s to feature films and animated series that continue to entertain audiences around the world, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy shaped the very DNA of physical comedy. Nearly a century after their first screen appearance together, their appeal hasn’t faded: it has become a cultural touchstone spanning generations.
Christmas is rarely predictable, and The AA’s latest festive campaign leans into that truth with a playful character-led twist. This year, the brand has partnered with Elves Behavin’ Badly, bringing the nation’s favourite mischievous duo into its well-known platform, “It’s OK, I’m with The AA”.
Google Pixel’s ‘It’s Pixel, actually’ campaign reunites Love Actually stars to showcase the Pixel 10’s cinematic capabilities in a warm, nostalgic festive moment — with Born Licensing managing the entire licensing process behind the scenes. The result is a joyful blend of modern craft and beloved holiday storytelling.
IAMS and the Garfield collaborate to raise awareness on the issue of overweight cats. With Born Licensing helping bring the partnership to life alongside Paramount and adam&eveDDB, this partnership proves how iconic characters can elevate ad campaigns.
Candy Crush Solitaire and the Care Bears have joined forces for a month-long in-game celebration of love, color, and kindness. With Born Licensing helping bring the partnership to life alongside King and Cloudco Entertainment, this crossover proves that even in gaming, caring is still the sweetest win of all.
Ghirardelli teamed up with SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star for a campaign celebrating iconic pairs, with Born Licensing managing the clip licensing and approvals process with Paramount. The result was a sweet, nostalgic spot that perfectly paired beloved characters with Ghirardelli’s new chocolate and caramel squares.
The Born team attended BLE 2025 in London. Over three days packed with meetings, presentations (and characters!), we caught up with over 30 licensors — including industry heavyweights like Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros., Sanrio, Pokémon, Canal+, LEGO and The Roald Dahl Story Company, among many others. It’s always an incredible opportunity to connect face-to-face with the people behind the IPs that continue to define culture, spark creativity, and shape campaigns across industries.
Born Licensing won Best Licensed Promotions Campaign at the 2025 Licensing Awards for Sainsbury’s x the BFG Christmas campaign
Licensing doesn’t stop at advertising — it’s a global industry shaping products we see on shelves every day. With Learn to License, we’re opening up that world to newcomers, giving them the tools to navigate product licensing with confidence.
Sainsbury’s 2024 Christmas campaign, starring the BFG and colleague Sophie, has been shortlisted for both the IPM Awards and UK Licensing Awards 2025
Eleven years ago, Born Licensing began with nothing more than a laptop, a studio apartment in Melbourne, and a belief that advertising could be better when powered by characters people already loved. There was no investor pitch deck, no neatly laminated business plan – and there was a lot to learn! What was there, however, was a head full of ideas and a deep passion for the emotional shorthand that iconic IP can bring to a campaign.
It’s been nearly three decades since Adam Sandler first brought Happy Gilmore to life, and now the golf-club-wielding fan favourite is back. Netflix has just released Happy Gilmore 2, bringing a fresh wave of nostalgia to one of the most iconic sports comedies of the ’90s - and this time, the brand partnerships are as bold as Happy’s swing.
In May 2025, the Born team touched down in Las Vegas to attend the biggest licensing event of the year, the 2025 Licensing Expo. And, of course, to snap some pictures with our favourite characters!
We build brands that matter. With over 80 businesses started every hour, yours needs to stand out. (hug) was founded to give passionate and ambitious businesses owners a competitive advantage in today’s crowded market.
Born Licensing welcomes Emmet Wright to the team as Licensor Manager for North America, Australia and New Zealand-based campaigns.