Head of GEM Corp / Photo File Inc., a division of Hard Rock

Overview

Position Title: Head of GEM Corp / Photo File Inc., a division of Hard Rock International

 

GEM Corp / Photo File Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Hard Rock International, is seeking an experienced and visionary executive with a deeply rooted background and expert understanding of the global collectible, photography, licensing and e-commerce/retail industries to serve as Head of Globe Entertainment and Media Corp (GEM) & its subsidiary Photo File Inc. This leader will drive strategy across physical and digital collectibles, manage high-value photography archives, architect new licensing and commerce models, and evolve both brands into global leaders in premium imagery and authenticated collectibles.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities of the role:

This is a high-impact leadership role with a mandate to unlock the full potential of one of the world’s most iconic entertainment and sports archives. The Head of GEM Corp / Photo File Inc. will serve as a key business partner in the continued evolution of Hard Rock International’s content, collectibles, and storytelling ecosystem.

 

Executive Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive business strategy, focused on growth, revenue diversification, content activation, and brand positioning across media, retail, and digital channels.
• Drive the future vision of GEM and Photo File within the professional photography and image licensing industries, including opportunities in sports, music, entertainment, and pop culture.
• Partner with Hard Rock International divisions to support a broader Hard Rock Authentics commerce platform.
• Provide strategic leadership for all business units under GEM and Photo File Inc, ensuring alignment with Hard Rock International’s brand and corporate objectives.
• Represent the division at key industry events, licensing summits, and executive meetings.

Operational Oversight

• Build and manage a high-performing team to drive growth across collectibles sales, marketing, creative, licensing, finance, archives, and digital platforms.

• Oversee P&L, budgets, and capital allocations to ensure profitable scalability and operational efficiency.
• Work closely with Hard Rock’s finance, legal, and marketing teams to ensure compliance with corporate standards and delivery on division KPIs.
• Maintain strict compliance with IP ownership, licensing agreements, photographer contracts, copyright law, and usage restrictions.
• Full oversight of P&L performance, pricing structure, capital allocation, and operational efficiencies.
• Modernize production operations to enhance product quality and revenue opportunities including:
• Print manufacturing
• Quality assurance and color management
• Fulfillment optimization
• SKU lifecycle management
• Implement scalable systems for metadata tagging, licensing compliance, and archive accessibility.

Commercial Development and Innovation

• Drive new business opportunities across editorial licensing, collectibles, eCommerce, exhibitions, product development, retail partnerships, and digital content.
• Expand product offerings leveraging photography assets: fine art prints, officially licensed sports imagery, editorial collections, home décor, and exclusive editions.
• Identify additional collectible offerings.
• Oversee supply chain, authentication standards, and packaging protocols to maintain museum-grade quality and brand integrity.
• Ensure a strong pipeline of opportunities across sports, music, film, and pop culture 

Licensing & Partnerships

• Create a global licensing framework to distribute GEM’s photography archive across media, publishing, streaming, gaming, retail, and experiential platforms.
• Develop new and synergize with existing partnerships with athletes, musicians, estates, and entertainment brands to monetize GEM’s archive through signings, limited editions, and retail activations.
• Oversee major contracts, partnerships, and negotiations, including rights management, vendor relationships, and third-party collaborations.
• Expand rights portfolio through contracts with top-tier photographers and exclusive content creators.
• Develop collaborations with auction houses, galleries, museums, and luxury brands to maximize reach and monetization potential.
• Strengthen Photo File’s positioning as a premier sports photography brand, with expansion into global leagues, collegiate markets, and emerging fan bases.

Team & Culture

• Build and inspire a high-performing team with cl