Authentic Brands Group Appoints Clément Smadja as Chief Legal Officer
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand and entertainment platform, today announced the appointment of Clément Smadja as Chief Legal Officer. He will report to Matt Maddox, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“We’re expanding how our brands and intellectual property reach people through media, live experiences and strategic partnerships around the world,” said Maddox. “Clem has an exceptional track record of advising on complex transactions. His sound judgment and deep legal expertise will be valuable as we continue building a global platform at the intersection of entertainment, sport and culture.”
Smadja joins Authentic from Fox Corporation, where he served as Senior Vice President, providing direction and strategic counsel on all areas of the business, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, SEC compliance and corporate governance. He played a leading role on the spinoff and stand-up of Fox as a public company, and more recently on Fox’s proposed acquisition of Roku, a transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $22 billion. Previously, he was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, advising domestic and international clients on multifaceted transactions and a broad range of corporate matters.
“I was drawn to Authentic’s entrepreneurial culture and to a leadership team that approaches the business with ambition, creativity and discipline,” said Smadja. “I’m excited to step into the role of Chief Legal Officer and leverage my background to help Matt, Jamie and the entire team shape Authentic’s continued growth.”
Smadja succeeds Jay Dubiner, who has served as Authentic’s Chief Legal Officer since 2015 and was instrumental in building Authentic into the global brand and entertainment platform it is today. Dubiner will remain a member of Authentic’s executive team as an Executive Vice Chairman, working with Jamie Salter, Founder and Executive Chairman, and Maddox on major transactions and strategic priorities.
“Working alongside the incredible leadership at Authentic to grow the business and build the global legal team has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” said Dubiner. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and look forward to continuing the work that will define Authentic’s next era.”
About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand and entertainment platform that owns and invests in iconic intellectual property and cultural assets. It accelerates brands through a set of specialized businesses that combine powerful storytelling, premium content, unforgettable live experiences and global commerce. Through a network of more than 1,700 best-in-class licensees and strategic partners across 150 countries and expansive distribution, Authentic’s brands drive more than $38 billion in annual systemwide sales worldwide.
Authentic’s diversified portfolio spans more than 50 brands and reaches nearly one billion social media followers. Its roster includes Reebok, Champion, Shaquille O’Neal, David Beckham, Kevin Hart, Sports Illustrated, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe, GUESS, Care Bears, Aéropostale, Nautica, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, Nine West, Brooks Brothers, Juicy Couture, Vince Camuto, Izod, Van Heusen, Dockers, Ted Baker, Hart Schaffner Marx, Vince, OVO, Barneys New York, Judith Leiber, Quiksilver, Spyder, Billabong, Volcom, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Prince, Sperry and Hunter.
For more information, visit corporate.authentic.com. Follow Authentic on LinkedIn, Instagram and WeChat.
Media Contact
Haley Steinberg
SVP, Global Communications
Authentic Brands Group