Gwyneth Paltrow to Give Keynote at Licensing Expo 2013

LOS ANGELES, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanstar Licensing, organizers of Licensing Expo and its exclusive sponsor, The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LIMA), jointly announce that world-renowned actress, fashion icon and entrepreneur, Gwyneth Paltrow, will deliver the 11:30 a.m. keynote address at Licensing Expo 2013. Licensing Expo is the world's largest and most influential brand, character, entertainment and art licensing event. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session with Paltrow and her business partner, fitness expert, Tracy Anderson. The session will be led by Tony Lisanti, editor-in-chief of License! Global magazine.

"Advanstar Licensing is delighted to welcome Gwyneth Paltrow as a keynote speaker at Licensing Expo," says Jessica Blue, vice president, Licensing Expo. "We look forward to sharing her business knowledge and experience of building successful brands with show attendees."

The Expo will open on the morning of June 18 with an Executive Keynote Panel, featuring four senior industry executives; details will be announced shortly.  The Expo, which takes place June 18-20, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, will feature more than 5,000 brands seeking licensing partners and product collaborations.

Paltrow's keynote, entitled, 'Brands on the Brink of Global Expansion,' will take place on Tuesday, June 18 at 11:30 a.m. The event is free for all Licensing Expo attendees. Speaking in her capacity as founder of Goop.com, a digital media company and lifestyle resource, and as co-owner of the Tracy Anderson brand, Paltrow will discuss her strategy for global expansion.

"I am pleased to be addressing this business audience relating to the growth and global expansion of both the Goop and Tracy Anderson brands," commented Paltrow.

Paltrow and Anderson will exhibit in the new Fashion District at Licensing Expo. They will launch global extensions for the Tracy Anderson brand which currently includes fitness content, custom machinery and equipment, four state-of-the-art fitness studios in the U.S. and a range of DVD fitness programs.

For more information and to register for free, visit www.licensingexpo.com.

For more Licensing Expo news, visit www.licensingexpo.com or find them on Twitter (@licensingexpo), on Facebook or via LinkedIn.

Notes to editors:
About Licensing Expo
Licensing Expo (www.licensingexpo.com) is the licensing industry's largest annual event. A trade show for leveraging properties and brand equity to develop merchandise, Licensing Expo attracts more than 400 exhibitors representing more than 5,000 brands and properties in entertainment; sports; fashion and apparel; publishing; art and design; automotive; animation/anime; home and housewares; and lifestyle. Exhibitors include Fortune 500 consumer brands, film studios, publishing houses and other creative agencies. Attendees from more than 80 countries represent the world's leading retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors and licensing agents. Licensing Expo is owned and organized by Advanstar Communications, Inc., is sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA), and is affiliated with License! Global magazine and Brand Licensing Europe.

About Advanstar Communications Inc
Advanstar Communications Inc. (www.advanstar.com), producer of Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe, is a leading worldwide media company providing integrated marketing solutions for fashion, life sciences and power sports industries. Advanstar serves business professionals and consumers in these industries with its portfolio of 147 events, 68 publications and directories, 267 electronic products and web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. Market leading brands and a commitment to delivering innovation, quality products and services enable Advanstar to "connect our customers with theirs". Advanstar has approximately 1,000 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America and Europe.

About Tracy Anderson

The Tracy Anderson brand houses the largest bank of fitness content researched and created by Tracy Anderson, innovations in custom machinery and equipment, state-of-the-art exercise studios, and customized DVD fitness programs. Founded in 1998 by co-owner Tracy Anderson, the brand provides people throughout the world with the tools, resources, and motivation they need to successfully connect and transform their bodies in the most positive and healthy way. With four studio outposts in the United States—including a just-opened, state-of-the-art complex in Los Angeles' Brentwood— and personal training services in London, studio members have access to the individualized attention and results driven fitness method that the brand delivers. The Tracy Anderson brand has produced over 160 DVDs including: Metamorphosis by Tracy, The Pregnancy Project, Teen Meta, and additional customized series that target people of all abilities and ages. In addition to a stable of custom-built fitness apparatuses, including the Hybrid Body Reformer, the Tracy Anderson brand also offers nutritional counseling, wellness shake formulations, and an array of exercise equipment and apparel. For more information, please visit tracyandersonmethod.com

About Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow is one of today's most prolific and celebrated actors in both television and film.  A testament to her undeniable talent, Paltrow's role in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE catapulted her into awards stardom with Best Actress honors at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Academy Awards. In 2011, she also won the Emmy award for Guest Actress in a Comedy series for her role of substitute teacher Holly Holiday on the smash hit musical series "Glee."  Upcoming film roles include performances in the independent film THANKS FOR SHARING co-starring Tim Robbins, Mark Ruffalo, and Josh Gad (TIFF 2012) along with Jon Favreau and Marvel's eagerly awaited IRON MAN 3.  IRON MAN 3 is currently slated for a May 2013 release via Dreamworks Studios.  In the film, Gwyneth reprises the role of Ms. Pepper Potts and will once again be seen alongside Robert Downey, Jr., Don Cheadle, and Scarlett Johanssen among other returning cast members.

Paltrow's recent film credits include THE AVENGERS; Steven Sodebergh's CONTAGION; COUNTRY STRONG (for which Paltrow also recorded original music on the film's Academy Award nominated soundtrack); and Jon Favreau's IRON MAN & IRON MAN 2.  Additional credits are James Gray's TWO LOVERS; brother Jake Paltrow's THE GOOD NIGHT; John Madden's PROOF (for which she received a Golden Globe nomination); SYLVIA; Ryan Murphy's RUNNING WITH SCISSORS; Douglas McGrath's INFAMOUS; THE WORLD OF TOMORROW; Neil LaBute's POSSESSION; Wes Anderson's THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS; Peter and Bobby Farrelly's SHALLOW HAL; THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY; Bruce Paltrow's DUETS; BOUNCE opposite Ben Affleck; Anthony Mighella's THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY;  and Andrew Davis' A PERFECT MURDER.  Paltrow's early career credits include SLIDING DOORS; Douglas McGrath's EMMA; GREAT EXPECTATIONS; THE PALLBEARER; SEVEN; A VIEW FROM THE TOP; MOONLIGHT AND VALENTINO; JEFFERSON IN PARIS; MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE; MALICE; HOOK and SHOUT.  Her first role was a remarkable performance in the critically acclaimed FLESH AND BONE opposite Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid.  Gwyneth also co-wrote and co-directed the short film DEALBREAKERS with friend Mary Wigmore.

In April 2013, Gwyneth will publish her second cookbook with Grand Central Publishing which follows her NEW YORK TIMES best-selling and first ever cookbook titled MY FATHER'S DAUGHTER (published April 2011).  She first established her credibility in the culinary field when she co-wrote Spain, A Culinary Road Trip with acclaimed chef Mario Batali.  Additionally, Paltrow continues to develop her passion project GOOP.com, an online newsletter and ultimate lifestyle resource.  

Born in Los Angeles where she spent the first eleven years of her life, Paltrow stems from a very close-knit family deeply entrenched in the entertainment industry.  Her father, Bruce Paltrow was a highly successful producer ("St. Elsewhere", "The White Shadow") and her mother is the award-winning actress Blythe Danner.  Paltrow and her younger brother Jake spent their early childhood in Los Angeles where she attended St. Augustine by the Sea (now known as Crossroads). 

Paltrow currently resides in Los Angeles, New York City, and London.

SOURCE Advanstar Communications, Inc.