Experienced toy and licensing industry professional Michael passed away at the weekend.

Michael first worked in the toy and licensing community during the noughties. He started his licensing career at Copyright Promotions, where he managed the sports licensing division. He then moved to Celador, where he was responsible for the licensing and marketing of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’ during its phenomenal rise. He went on to consult for several licensing companies including Fremantle, where he helped to set up licensing programmes for X Factor and The Apprentice, before establishing his own toy company, Danjam, which focused on the licensed wooden toys category.

Michael had long-term health issues which did not hold him back during the time he spent in the toy and licensing community, but led to a career change over the past decade, when he established a connected medical smart care company, 11Health. He also developed a unique coaching programmes which used patients as health coaches. In 2015 he was appointed as the inaugural Stanford Medicine X Entrepreneur in Residence – Medicine X being a hub for new ideas and technologies about the future of medicine and health care. He was also an accomplished motivational speaker and wrote many articles for medical magazines.

David Wootliff, who worked with Michael during his extensive toy career, told Toy World: “Michael was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, so inspiring and positive… just a really lovely guy, very supportive.”

Our thoughts are with Michael’s family at this sad time.