Michael Stone (licensing expert)
Michael S. Stone is a co-founder and current president and chief executive officer of The Beanstalk Group, a brand licensing agency and consultancy. In 1992, Stone founded The Beanstalk Group with his partner, Seth M. Siegel. The company is now part of the Diversified Agency Services division of Omnicom Group and is a member of the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA).
Stone is often quoted in publications, including Advertising Age, Brandweek, The New York Times Magazine, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, Women's Wear Daily, Financial Times and Drapers. He has also penned columns for AdAge.com, Brandweek and Brandchannel, and appeared on broadcast outlets as an industry expert, including Fox Business News “Money for Breakfast.”
He has been involved in licensing programs for the Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson, The Stanley Works, Universal Studios, The Andy Warhol Foundation, and mary-kateandashley (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s line).
Over the years, Stone has served as the licensing adviser or agent for McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Columbia Sportswear and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Recently, Stone established Beanstalk Charities, a fund for charitable donations, and Beanstalk Hands-On, a program which offers employees up to one week each year of paid leave to provide hands-on volunteer support for community activities.
He graduated from Hamilton College and Emory University School of Law. Stone began his legal career as a law clerk for a U.S. District Court judge and then practiced law with an intellectual property law firm in New York City, prior to embarking upon his career in licensing representation.