YEHUDA SHMIDMAN
CHAIRMAN & CEO
For more than 15 years, Yehuda Shmidman has been involved with deploying over $2 billion of institutional capital into acquiring, growing and monetizing global consumer brands including Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and PEANUTS. He currently serves as Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of WHP Global, a New York based brand management firm backed by Oaktree Capital with plans to invest over $1 billion into consumer brands. WHP Global’s portfolio generates over $3 billion of GMV, and includes ANNE KLEIN and JOSEPH ABBOUD as well as TOYS“R”US and BABIES“R”US. WHP Global is also parent to WHP+, a full service turnkey e-commerce platform. Yehuda is also a board member of the Fashion Scholarship Fund. He holds a B.A. degree magna cum laude from Yeshiva University in New York.
THOMAS CASARELLA
Co-Founder & Board Member
Thomas Casarella is a Managing Director at Oaktree Capital Management. Prior to joining Oaktree, he served as Deputy Chief Restructuring Officer at the United States Department of the Treasury. Before that, Mr. Casarella was a member of the Private Equity group at Brookfield Asset Management, following earlier career roles Lazard and Goldman Sachs. He is a board member of Boardriders, Crossroads Building Supply and Kondaur Capital Management, Techstyle Fashion Group, and WHP Global. Mr. Casarella is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Children’s Bureau. Mr. Casarella holds an A.B. degree summa cum laude from Bowdoin College, an M.A. degree in economics from Oxford University, and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. He is also a CFA charterholder.
hank sneddon
board member
Hank Sneddon is a Vice President at Oaktree Capital Management and a board member of WHP Global. Prior to joining Oaktree, he was a member of the Restructuring & Special Situations group at PJT Partners. Mr. Sneddon holds an A.B. in Mathematics from Harvard College.
Effy Zinkin
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & GENERAL COUNSEL
Effy Zinkin has over 20 years of experience in various C-level positions in the apparel and accessory industries. Effy began his career at Marc Ecko Enterprises, most recently serving as its President, where he oversaw its expansion to over $1 billion in retail sales and successful exit in 2013. After this, he was President of Concept One Accessories. Effy then formed Big Brand Builders, a brand and retail advisory business, which included clients such as Revlon and licensees to Under Armour and Major League Baseball. Mr. Zinkin most recently served as President of Icon Eyewear. Effy holds a B.S. degree in Finance from Sy Syms School of Business, Yeshiva University, and a J.D. degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
STANLEY SILVERSTEIN
Chief Commercial Officer
Stanley Silverstein is a 30+ year retail industry leader with expertise in licensing, global strategy and development. He joins WHP from Perry Ellis International, where he served as President of International Development and Global Licensing. Prior to Perry Ellis, Stanley was a longtime senior executive at Warnaco/PVH where he was responsible for the company's highly successful global expansion of its brands including Calvin Klein. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of The New School in New York City and the Fashion Scholarship Fund, and a member of NYU Stern Fashion & Luxury Council. Stanley is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School.
matthew finigan
chief financial officer
Matthew Finigan is a seasoned finance executive with over 20 years of experience in financial strategy, capital markets and risk management. He most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of Tru Kids Brands since the company’s establishment in 2019. In this role, Matt was instrumental in launching the operations for the Toys“R”Us brand and paving the way to its eventual acquisition by WHP Global. Prior to joining Tru Kids, Matt spent 15 years at Toys“R”Us Inc. in senior financial management roles, most recently as Vice President - Global Treasurer. He holds a master's degree in business administration from the NYU Stern School of Business and a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
jaime cassavechia
head of corporate communications
Jaime Cassavechia is the Co-Founder & Principal of NY boutique public relations firm EJ Media Group. Capitalizing on over 18 years of PR and corporate communications experience, Jaime specializes in partnering with CEOs, entrepreneurs and talent to architect and execute brand strategies, lead media relations, steer corporate communications and handle crisis situations. She is highly skilled at driving national media and consumer awareness through carefully crafted communication strategies. As a partner for executives of growth companies, startups, and established consumer brands, Jaime is often relied upon as a strategic advisor to develop macro brand strategies that resonate, engage, and capture a targeted audience. Jaime oversees all communications, public relations and media strategy for WHP Global, the parent company to ANNE KLEIN, JOSEPH ABBOUD and TOY“R”US.
JAMIE UITDENHOWEN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, TOYS“R”US
Jamie Uitdenhowen has more than 20 years of experience as a global business leader managing omnichannel retail businesses. At WHP, Jamie leads the Toys“R”Us brand team and network of global license partners. Having spent more than 18 years at Toys“R”Us, Inc., he has become a respected executive in the toy industry, with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, identifying and leveraging market trends and building strong relationships. Jamie has a master's degree in business administration from Seton Hall University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Temple University.
Kim miller
chief marketing officer, toys“R”Us & President of Toys“R“us studios
Kim Miller is a 4-time Emmy Award winner with 20+ years as a transformational media leader and brand storyteller. At WHP, Kim is CMO of Toys“R”Us and President of the newly established Toys“R”Us Studios. Prior to WHP, Kim served as a longtime senior executive at Martha Stewart where she found and engaged diverse audiences through global brand partnerships, nationwide live experiences, and award-winning television - most notably as executive producer of the acclaimed Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party. Throughout her career, Kim has worked with a multitude of well-known brands, A-list celebrities and studios including Paramount, Warner Brothers, PBS and CBS. She is an active member of the woman’s leadership organization, Chief.
JAMEEL SPENCER
Head of Marketing & WHP+ Advisory Board Member
Jameel Spencer is an award-winning veteran brand builder, who has played pivotal business roles for Shaquille O’Neal, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Simpson over the last 25 years. At WHP Global, Jameel leads the creative marketing, celebrity talent development, and Diversity & Inclusion efforts across the brand portfolio. He is the Founder and CEO of the marketing agency Writeful Place. His agency scripts narratives for personalities, brands, and businesses looking to realize unexploited revenue potential.
TONY ASSORGI
SENIOR Vice President, FASHION
Tony Assorgi has spent close to 20 years leading sales and merchandising for global brands in the fashion industry. At WHP Global, he manages the network of licensee and retail partners for the ANNE KLEIN and JOSEPH ABBOUD brands. Prior to WHP, Tony served as the Vice President of Sales at Buffalo Jeans. He began his career at Tommy Hilfiger and has held senior positions at Li & Fung, Global Brands Group, Centric Brands and Marc Ecko Enterprises.
Scott Book
Managing Director, Corporate Development
Scott has over 10 years of experience in the retail and executive recruiting sectors. Prior to joining WHP Global, Scott was President of SBC Group, a leading executive search firm. Before that, Scott was President of The Franklin Mint, the iconic collectibles retailer, where he managed all aspects of the business and ultimately oversaw the successful exit to Sequential Brands Group in 2013. Scott holds a B.A. degree from Albany University.
Russ Banker
Managing Director, Corporate Development
Russ Banker is a founding member of the WHP Global team. Prior to helping launch WHP Global, he worked at Sequential Brands Group in the Corporate Development group where he worked on a variety of M&A and new business initiatives across its brand portfolio. He began his career at IBM where he most recently worked in the firm’s corporate acquisitions & divestitures group. Russ holds a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College and M.B.A. from NYU Stern School of Business.
RON BREAKSTONE
HEAD OF DIGITAL, WHP+
Ron Breakstone is an innovative eCommerce leader with over two decades of experience scaling high growth digital businesses. Ron joins WHP from GODIVA Chocolatier where he was the Global Head of eCommerce overseeing digital sales for the billion-dollar brand distributed in more than 100 countries. Prior to GODIVA, he spent 7 years as Vice President of eCommerce at FreshDirect, the leading online grocer with nearly $800 million in sales per annum during his tenure. He is a board member of BWG Strategy and eCom Advisory. Ron has both his undergraduate degree and MBA from The George Washington University.