MAY 7, 2019 - Big news today as CBS Television Studios announced the creation of a new group that will oversee the expansion of the Star Trek brand, beyond what we’ve seen so far in television and film. This is a major investment by CBS in the Star Trek franchise...here’s what you need to know, and what to watch out for in the coming months.

According to CBS: “The unit’s goal is to invigorate and broaden the Star Trek fan community through additional branding opportunities, such as podcasts, a reinvigorated StarTrek.com and new digital spaces, consumer products and gaming, as well as live experiential events and global attractions.”

The head of the new group is Veronica Hart, and her new title is Executive Vice President of Star Trek Global Franchise Management. She previously held positions as Senior Vice President and then Executive Vice President of CBS Consumer Products. Before CBS, she held senior positions in licensing for HiT Entertainment, Sesame Workshop and the Jim Henson Company.

Rounding out the team are John Van Citters, Vice President of Star Trek Brand Development, Yasmin Elachi, Director of Star Trek Content (as it pertains to social media), and Gabrielle Oliff, Director of Global Franchise Management Operations (essentially the analytical arm of the group).

This new business unit of Star Trek Global Franchise Management, reports directly to David Stapf, President of CBS Television Studios. He says: “Veronica and her team are not only gifted brand strategists and veteran consumer products executives, they are also experts on the ‘Star Trek’ canon. We are excited to launch this new business unit because the brand has an enormously rabid fan base, and we look forward to expanding its reach even further.”