Melissa Ellish

Experience

1. Senior Director, Softlines Licensing - Apparel

   Paramount

   Mar 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Develop ​brand strategy for the softlines category, ensuring initiatives reflect business needs and consumer trends- Lead strategic planning for a multi-million dollar business, partnering with executive leadership on annual and long-range plans to drive growth across Paramount brands, including Yellowstone, SpongeBob, and Emily in Paris - Conduct comprehensive and ongoing market, consumer, and competitor analyses to identify whitespace opportunities, inform brand positioning and expansion, and support executive decision-making- Synthesize quantitative analysis and retail sales data to uncover business drivers, optimize licensing strategies, and deliver actionable insights for executive leadership- Develop and execute business cases for new revenue streams and business models, expanding the portfolio across retail and digital channels- Create and deliver compelling, insight-driven presentations for senior executives and cross-functional partners, shaping strategic narratives and aligning stakeholders on key initiatives- Partner cross-functionally with retail development, marketing, creative, digital, legal, and finance teams to lead initiatives that align with brand strategy and growth objectives- Maximize licensed partnerships to ensure successful launches and sustained expansion of product lines, contributing to category and market growth- Monitor and analyze financial plans, forecasts, and budgets, defining and tracking KPIs to measure progress against strategic objectives- Lead and mentor a team of 3; promoted 2 into expanded roles, fostering a collaborative, high performing culture- Spearhead Sustainability and DE & I efforts, signing 10 new clients across both initiatives.

Education

• Polimoda

  Master, Fashion Brand Management

  2011 — 2012

• University of Delaware

  Bachelor of Science, Fashion Merchandising with Spanish Minor

  2007 — 2011

Skills

• Mac Os X
• High Organizational Skills
• Apparel
• Team Leadership
• Communication Skills
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Visual Merchandising
• Customer Service
• Styling
• Artistry
• Time Management
• Fashion Merchandising
• Microsoft Office
• Analytical Skills
• Fashion Buying
• Creativity
• Merchandising
• Brand Awareness
• Multitasker
• Fashion Design
• Brand Communication
• Well Travelled
• Problem Solving
• Trend
• Fashion Branding
• Multicultural
• Teamwork
• Fashion
• Communication
• Trend Forecasting