14 APPOINTMENTS INDUSTRY MOVES
ToyNews gets a new publisher and Gerry Tekerian bids farewell to the toy business LEAPFROG
TOYNEWS Lisa Carter has stepped up to the role of publisher for both ToyNews and
Licensing.biz. Carter has taken
over complete day-to-day control of the brands, driving editorial and commercial development, as well as event management and bespoke solutions for numerous business partners. Carter (née Foster) relaunched
ToyNews as managing editor back in 2000 when Intent Media acquired the title. Having worked across many of Intent Media’s other publications, including MCV, BikeBiz, PCR and Musical Instrument Professional, Carter switched back to ToyNews and sister brand
Licensing.biz earlier this year.
GERRY
TEKERIAN Industry veteran Gerry Tekerian is to step down from his role as European manager for Little
Tikes, after spending 34 years in the toy business. Tekerian has been at Little Tikes for over 15 years, having joined in 1997, when the brand was owned by Rubbermaid. He continued the role when MGA Entertainment acquired Little Tikes in 2006. MGA’s UK managing director, Andrew Laughton, said: “Little Tikes owes much of its success and its reputation as the leading brand of quality outdoor toys to Gerry. He will be sorely missed.”
Martin Lefranc has joined LeapFrog UK as acting CRM and online marketing manager for EMEA, to
cover for Victoria Storey, while she is on maternity leave.
He brings with him a wealth of digital experience from a wide range of sectors including the pharmaceutical, fine wine and banking industries. “We are pleased to welcome Martin to the team and believe he will make a great addition to the marketing division,” said LeapFrog’s Samantha Harris, UK & EMEA head of marketing communications.
CLICK
DISTRIBUTION Pocket money toys specialist Click Distribution has hired Kirsty Baxter as its agent for the
independent toy and hobby sector in the Midlands. Mark Hillier, Click’s managing
director, said: “We are excited and very pleased to welcome Kirsty to the Click team.
“She is a delightful lady, and the appointment demonstrates further our desire to support the independent toy sector with first class sales personnel, backed up with exciting and fast selling products and outstanding customer service.”
Kirsty can be contacted on 07540 736001. Click Distribution UK’s phone number is 01604 877888.
MIND CANDY Former MTV Networks
International CEO and chairman Bill Roedy has joined the board of
Mind Candy. He assumes the position of non-exec director for the Moshi Monsters company. Under Roedy’s leadership, MTV developed a global operation that now includes 200 channels in over 200 countries and 33 languages.
SPIELWAREN- MESSE
Spielwarenmesse eG has boosted its marketing team, with the
appointment of
creative director, Christian Medelnik. Medelnik brings with him a raft of
experience in brand communication to the organiser of Nuremberg Toy Fair. In his new role, he has been tasked with taking care of the future creative orientation of the show.
TOMY Lauren Kennedy has joined Tomy Europe’s marketing team, taking over from Harriet Lampard as
product development executive in the agriculture division. Emilia Lawes, sales and marketing manager of agriculture at Tomy Europe, said: “We’re very excited to welcome Lauren to the team. Her experience will be vital in driving forward our marketing.”
Keep it in the family
The toy industry is my extended family. I have been in the sector for over 14 years and I love it.
The business is a closely guarded
secret in many ways and when you are part of ‘the trade’ you are part of the family. We all have great fun at trade shows
and we all rely on each other in times of crisis, but it is fair to say – and I’m confident most of you will agree with me when I say this – that the toy sector is rather incestuous.
Getting in too deep can be a risky business, so here’s a few things to be mindful of: • Employers deselect candidates based on what they have ‘heard’ about someone
• Candidates deselect vacancies based on what they have ‘heard’ about companies • If you have a secret to keep then don’t tell anyone, as word spreads VERY fast • The closeness of the trade means that, unless well protected, your products are not your own. • And the most dangerous? No matter where you sit in the trade, assumptions get made and people don’t ask questions. If you don’t ask questions, you don’t find out the information you need – and we all know what assume stands for.
www.toynews-online.biz
Birchwood Recruitment offers bespoke solutions to finding the right sales and marketing people for the toy sector. 07796 697100,
www.birchwoodrecruit.wordpress.com
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