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Authentic

Asset-light IP licensing and brand management

Director – Business Development - Lifestyle

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/15/2026
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's
Tokyo, Japan
In PersonOccasional travel required.
Sales & Account ManagementBusiness Development & Partnerships

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 8 years of new business development experience in licensing for the Lifestyle, Beauty, or Fashion markets in Japan.
  • Experience managing the full sales cycle from lead generation through closing.
  • Knowledge and understanding of licensees and product categories.
  • Substantial cold-calling and other outreach experience, with a professional drive to win.
  • Success negotiating licensing contracts and creatively developing new business ideas.
  • Ability to partner closely with licensees to understand their business needs and explore growth opportunities.
  • Understanding of licensing sales successes and challenges, key retail accounts, development plans, and strategy.
  • Understanding of best practices for licensees.
  • A bachelor's degree.
  • Willingness and ability to travel occasionally as the role requires.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and execute strategies to expand Authentic's licensing partnerships, increase the footprint of its brands, and deliver revenue in Japan.
  • Learn and understand Authentic's brand strategies.
  • Research the market and identify prospective licensing partners that match the brand portfolio and partner qualifications.
  • Identify target contacts and decision makers within target companies and establish contact through cold calling, email outreach, and other means.
  • Drive prospects into leads through high-volume outbound sales activity.
  • Use discovery to learn about prospects' interests and capabilities.
  • Partner with Business Development leadership and Brand Marketing to develop pitch decks that align the brand value proposition with prospects' interests and capabilities.
  • Work with Brand Management and Business Development Leadership to develop business plans and product licensing proposals.
  • Lead and manage deal-term negotiations and take ownership of the deal process.
  • Assemble term sheets with concise business terms and work with legal counsel to draft licensing agreements.
  • Track sales activity consistently and accurately in the CRM.
  • Manage productive, goal-oriented deal processes.
  • Prepare sales forecasts according to the company's reporting process.
  • Prepare sales performance reports and presentations as needed.
  • Attain the quota for the assigned business pillar.

About the company

Authentic Brands Group (ABG) builds a global brand portfolio by acquiring the intellectual property of established brands and licensing them to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers worldwide. Its asset-light model means ABG earns revenue from licensing fees and royalties rather than owning stores or inventories. The company distinguishes itself by owning valuable IP and likeness rights (like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis) and growing through large acquisitions, supported by a network of over 1,900 partners in 150 countries. Its goal is to grow and monetize a wide range of consumer and entertainment brands through long-term licensing deals that provide steady revenue.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Private

Total Funding

$1.4B

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2010

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Mattel talks signal Authentic can target iconic kids brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels.
  • Guess's January 2026 deal lifted portfolio retail-equivalent sales to $38 billion globally.
  • OVO's August 2026 partnership adds Drake-led cultural reach and worldwide apparel licensing.

What critics are saying

  • Mattel talks remain preliminary, and Roger Lynch's November 2026 transition complicates negotiation.
  • OVO brought C$5.0 million unpaid claims, exposing Authentic to inherited disputes.
  • A failed Mattel bid would brand Authentic as a serial acquirer without scale.

What makes Authentic unique

  • Authentic monetizes famous IP through licensing, not capital-heavy retail operations.
  • Its January 2026 Guess take-private gave Authentic 51% of Guess IP.
  • Dockers and OVO extend Authentic across menswear, streetwear, and entertainment.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Remote Work Options

Paid Vacation

Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

14%

1 year growth

14%

2 year growth

14%
Yahoo Finance
Oct 1st, 2026
Authentic Brands eyes $6B takeover of Mattel at $20+ per share

Mattel shares surged 23% on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal reported that Authentic Brands Group approached the toy maker about a potential takeover. According to people familiar with the matter, Authentic has been privately discussing an offer that could value Mattel at more than $20 per share, or around $6 billion or more. The potential offer represents a premium of more than 58% to Wednesday's closing price of $12.66, which gave Mattel a market value of approximately $3.6 billion. Mattel's stock has declined more than 33% this year. There is no guarantee the companies will reach a deal, and another buyer could emerge. Mattel announced on Wednesday that Roger Lynch will become CEO within the next month, which could complicate any transaction.

Business Insider
Sep 14th, 2026
Steven Bartlett and Authentic Brands Group to invest up to $400M in creator businesses

Steven Bartlett, host of "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, is partnering with Authentic Brands Group to launch OBSN, a venture that will invest up to $400 million in helping creators build businesses. The initiative aims to provide creators with capital, infrastructure, and expertise to develop lasting enterprises through media, products, and partnerships. Bartlett's podcast has amassed about 20 million YouTube subscribers and became the number one business podcast on Spotify in the US. The venture combines Bartlett's creator experience with Authentic's brand management expertise. Authentic's portfolio includes over 50 brands, such as Reebok, Shaquille O'Neal, and Sports Illustrated. The companies haven't specified how many creators will receive funding or detailed timelines, saying only that funds will be deployed "over the coming years.

The Hollywood Reporter
Aug 27th, 2026
Authentic Brands Group acquires majority stake in Drake's OVO lifestyle brand

Authentic Brands Group has acquired a majority stake in Drake's lifestyle brand October's Very Own (OVO). The Canadian rapper will retain a minority stake and continue to shape the brand's creative vision. Authentic is partnering with Vince Holding Corp. on design, product development and retailing of OVO products. Drake described Authentic and Vince as "the perfect partners" to help grow the brand he started in Toronto 20 years ago. Jamie Salter, founder and executive chairman of Authentic, praised OVO's cultural influence and sees opportunities to expand into new markets globally. Authentic has become the second largest licensor in the US behind Disney through celebrity partnerships and brand acquisitions including Brooks Brothers, Champion and Sports Illustrated.

Brands Untapped
Aug 19th, 2026
Authentic completes Care Bears acquisition and details new Character vertical - Brands Untapped

"Our job is to protect what people already love about these characters while giving them new ways to feel it all over again," said Simon Philips, Executive Vice President of Character Brands at Authentic.

PR Newswire
May 21st, 2026
Authentic Brands Group Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Lee®

/PRNewswire/ -- Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand and entertainment platform, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Lee, one of...