APPOINTMENTS Industry moves
MGA Entertainment continues its international licensing expansion for its Little Tikes brand with a trio of appointments, IMC Toys adds a new national account manager and Intent Media MD to step down
MGA ENTERTAINMENT The firm’s Little Tikes brand received an increased focus this month, as MGA
Entertainment bolstered the sales and marketing team with a trio of high profile staff changes. RACHAEL SPRINGETT (left) has been promoted to the newly created post of international marketing and licensing director. Springett steps up from her former post as European marketing manager. Taking over her reins, MICHELLE LILLEY
INTENT MEDIA After 15 years at the firm, Intent Media’s founder and MD STUART
DINSEY is stepping down at the end of October to pursue new opportunities. Dinsey set up the
publishing house in 1998 to publish the leading games industry trade brand MCV. The firm was acquired by New York based NewBay Media in December 2012. Dinsey commented: “Intent has an ambitious, globally minded parent, serving today’s colliding worlds of entertainment and tech. “For me after 15 years, it’s simply time to hand over the baton. I will always love Intent Media, but now is a good time for me to explore new interests.” Dinsey’s departure has seen a senior management reshuffle at video games weekly, MCV. MICHAEL FRENCH becomes publisher of the games division, with CHRIS DRING becoming editor of MCV.
INSPIRATION WORKS The firm’s toy division welcomes a new member this month as KAY
THOMPSON joins as head of sales. Boasting extensive industry experience, Thompson has held previous roles with Worlds Apart, New Moons and Vivid Imaginations. DAVID MARTIN, director and general manager, said: “We’re obviously delighted to have Kay on board, she has an exceptional track record of success and is a hugely popular character within the business.” Thompson will work alongside PAUL JOYNER, head of sales of the technology division.
CREACON GROUP Media executive HAROLD SLETTEN has joined as the
firm’s new chief executive officer. Sletten will be
becomes UK marketing manager for the brand, boasting a strong background in the retail and home goods industry. Former Hornby man, JOHN BRIGGS completes the trio as he takes over as general sales manager. ANDREW LAUGHTON, managing director of Little Tikes UK, commented: “I am very happy to be welcoming both Michelle and John on board and extremely pleased to be working with Rachael as we continue to develop the business globally.”
responsible for leading the development and growth of CreaCon’s flagship brand, City of Friends. Joining from Bergens Tidende, Norway’s fourth largest newspaper, Sletten will also oversee the business and management team. Sletten’s appointment
allows City of Friends creator and CreaCon founder CARL CHRISTIAN HAMRE to focus on the creative content and long- term development of the brand internationally. Sletten said: “CreaCon’s
focus will be to renew our focus on growing our roster of licensees internationally, with focus on the UK and the Middle East.”
HOME RETAIL GROUP TERRY DUDDY, the chief executive of Argos parent company Home Retail Group, is stepping down from the company next year. Credited with creating the click and collect ordering system, Duddy was the boss of Argos for 15 years and chief executive of Home Retail Group for seven.
IMC TOYSFollowing two years of healthy growth, IMC has increased its sales team with the arrival of SHARON GASKIN (above) as national account manager. It has also promoted GUY ROONEY to the role of UK sales
He will step down from
his role on July 2nd 2014. “It has been a great privilege to lead this group for 15 years, including the last seven as the chief executive of Home Retail Group Plc,” said Duddy. “We have achieved a
great deal in that time and the positive momentum of the business is now such that I feel the time is right to move onto the next stage of my career.”
OUTFIT 7 Popular licensing industry executive ANGELES BLANCO has joined the UK subsidiary of fast growing Outfit 7 as its new senior licensing director. Blanco arrives at the ambitious international entertainment network from DHX Media and will advise the management team and implement Outfit 7’s licensing strategy right across the EMEA region. In addition, RANDEEP
SIDHU takes on the newly created role of senior brand director, with the responsibility for advising on the global brand
manager. TERRY CREW, MD of IMC Toys, welcomed the move: “These are key appointments for IMC Toys, as 2014 will see a significant introduction of new innovative products, of which we’re very excited about.”
management of Outfit 7’s portfolio of products. Both execs will report to Outfit 7’s chief operating officer, ALESSANDRO TRAVERSO. Traverso said: “We welcome the experience and ideas that both Blanco and Sidhu will bring to Outfit 7.”
BIGJIGS TOYS The toy company has further strengthened its sales force with
the appointment of BRADLEY DODDS as representative for the South East.
Dodds has been in the
toy business for over 20 years, starting with K’Nex and Hasbro as sales representative, before becoming key national account manager at MV Sports and Trends UK. Dodds (pictured above) commented: “This is a really exciting time to be joining the BigJigs team, as they are going from strength to strength with some new and exciting ranges.”
22 October
www.toynews-online.biz
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