www.toynews-online.biz INDUSTRY MOVES
Mattel UK appoints a new marketing director and tweaks its licensing team, Kevin Jones is promoted to European MD at Spin Master, Rainbow Designs strengthens team, Bigjigs welcomes new account manager and Adrian Leafe moves to John Crane...
Kevin Jones has been promoted to MD of Europe for Spin Master
In his new role, Jones will lead the company’s business
across Spin Master subsidiaries. Jones has led the UK company for the past six years following the acquisition of FEVA by Spin Master in January 2006.
In addition, the company has also announced that Denis Normand, senior vice president international, who successfully led Spin Master’s international business for the past five years, has now left the company and taken up a new position outside of the industry as CEO of Dimplex North America.
Kevin Jones has led Spin Master
in the UK for the past six years, since the acquisition of FEVA in 2006.
John Crane has hired Adrian Leafe has national account manager. Leafe brings over 20 years of toy industry experience and will be responsible for not only established national accounts, but possible new ones too.
The appointment is being made to
replace Steve Asbey, who is leaving to join Mattel.
Managing director of John Crane, Jonathan Thorpe, commented: “Whilst we are sad to loose Steve from the company, we are thrilled to be able to employ Adrian with his great experience and understanding of this industry.”
“I am looking forward to my new challenge with John Crane, they have a great range of exciting products and an excellent reputation,” commented Leafe. “I cannot wait to get on board and begin working with the new team.”
Lego’s Soren Torp Laursen has been named as chairman of the Toy Industry Association (TIA) after Bryan Stockton of Mattel retired from the position. Laursen joins for a one-year term and had previously served as vice chairman of the board. At its Annual Business Meeting, the TIA elected two new members to the board of directors, welcoming a new retail executive and sales representative. Julia Fitzgerald, chief digital engagement officer, toys and sporting goods, Sears Holdings and Jeffrey Kennis, president, Enchanted Moments, were recommended by the nominating committee and elected at the meeting to become the first members of the retailer and independent sales rep communities to serve on the TIA Board. Fitzgerald and Kennis will each serve their first term until 2014. John Gessert, president and CEO of American Plastic Toys, returns to the board of directors and assumes the role of vice chairman. Stockton becomes an advisor to the governance body. David Hargreaves of Hasbro was elected secretary-treasurer. Meanwhile, Chuck Scothon, general manger and SVP of Mattel, Digital Networks and Bob Wann, CEO of Patch Products, join as the newest members of the committee.
DKL has hired Philippa Silver to grow its social network activity. Silver will be looking after all social media
including Facebook, Twitter and blogs, as well as increasing DKL’s PR presence through the consumer media.
David Allan, sales and marketing
director, said: “Bringing Philippa on board will ensure that all our brands’ consumer awareness is at the highest level and we can drive consumers into our loyal retailers.”
Bigjigs has hired Carol Bradshaw as its new national sales manager. She joins the wooden toy firm following a five-year stint at The Green Board Games Company.
Louise Yarnold has joined distributor Gem as business development account manager. Yarnold arrives at the firm after a stint at Toyota, where she was primarily responsible for sales, finance and business development along with customer service and after sales care. At Gem, Yarnold will report to the head of business development, Philip Munro.
IMC has appointed Bridget Dickinson as financial controller.
The appointment follows the company’s plans for
expansion in 2012 and beyond. Managing director Terry Crew commented: “I believe Bridget will be a great asset to us, as she joins IMC with a wealth of experience gained in the financial sector. “This appointment is another step in the development of the UK management team highlighting our determination to make IMC a major player in the UK market place.”
Mattel UK is expanding its licensing team. Bethan Parry takes on the newly created role of retail development manager, managing the retail planning and customer marketing for Mattel’s Consumer Products business. Helena Mansell- Stopher has been promoted to senior manager, Mattel Brands Consumer Products UK Category Management. Elsewhere, Mattel UK has appointed Jenny Watson as its new marketing director for the UK and Ireland. Erica Zubriski, who was previously in the role, has been promoted to VP Brand Play Marketing for Fisher-Price, East Aurora, New York.
Alison Coates (left) has joined Rainbow Designs as marketing manager, bringing over 15 years’ experience to the business, with a strong brand and marketing track record in the toy industry. Her achievements include the launch of the Bratz doll brand with Vivid Imaginations, while Coates also has experience of the licensing industry and national accounts sales with Leapfrog, Bandai and, more recently, Jakks Pacific. She will be responsible for the marketing of all of the Rainbow brands in support of its sales objectives.
Also joining the Rainbow team is Michelle Rhodes (right) as senior national account manager. Bringing 25 years’ experience to the table, Rhodes has worked in senior national account sales roles with major toy firms including Hasbro, Lego and Mega Brands. Her role at Rainbow will see her taking over direct responsibility for the account management of Tesco, Mothercare, WH Smiths, Debenhams and Toys R Us among others.
Gavin Patrick has joined John Adams to represent the pool inflatables brand Intex. John Adams
makes the hire
following a ‘successful year’ with the above ground pools and leisure inflatables line. Patrick joins the toy business from
Henkel Adhesive where he worked in sales for more than seven years. Bruno Gallone, sales director at
John Adams, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Gavin, who will solely focus upon driving forward the Intex business within the UK market.”
MARCH 2012
APPOINTMENTS 17
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