WOMEN IN TOYS
Lynette Norris, Marketing Manager, John Adams
Norris has over 12 years experience working in sectors spanning toys, licensed goods and branded packaging. She spent six years at licensed costume firm Cesar UK before creating her own online beachwear business. She returned to the toy sector in 2011, joining John Adams originally as product manager. Norris is also a keen swimmer and raised money for Cancer Research UK taking part in the Great London Swim.
Foye Pascoe, General Manager UK & Ireland, Hasbro
Pascoe started her career as a commercial trainee at ICI Paints, before joining Hasbro five years later in 1997. Since joining, she has held several positions within the global toy firm. These include roles of head of UK marketing, sales director and country manager. Pascoe became Hasbro’s
general manager, UK and Ireland in 2010 and has since added Nordic and Benelux to her remit.
Julie Pittilla, Managing Director, Pittilla PR
Pittilla started working in the toy industry for Cartmell PR in Blackpool where she launched the Cabbage Patch Kids and Rubik’s Cube. In 1986 she formed Pittilla PR and has worked with most major toy firms notably HTI, Golden Bear, Rubies, Worlds Apart, PlayMais, Grossmans, Playmates, Ideal Toys, Famosa and John Crane. She specialises in national media coverage and, amongst other lines launched the Teletubbies and Shaun the Sheepfor Golden Bear.
www.toynews-online.biz
Michelle Norton, Co-founder, Norton & Co
Norton’s career in the toy industry started in the mid Eighties as PR manager for Mattel, going on to develop the PR launches of brands such as Teddy Ruxpin, and the initial launch of Nintendo into the UK. In 1991 she set up Norton and Co with her husband Tony. Convincing Blue Peterto make a Tracy Island at the height of the Thunderbirds success in the early Nineties she helped create queues around TRU stores that were unheard of.
Wendy Phillips, Toy Safety Experts
Phillips is an extremely well respected expert in this field and also recently took on the Convenorship of the European Working group for Mechanical and Physical Properties of Toys. Phillips has been very
proactive on the Committee (CW/15) for many years and has made a significant contribution to the field of toy safety.
Holly Oldham, Head of Licensing EMEA, Rubie's Masquerade
Oldham works with Rubie’s expansive portfolio of licensed character dress up, from The Simpsonsto Halloween lines such as Scooby Dooor Pennywise the clown from It. Oldham joined the firm in 2006 as advertising and promotions manager. Over the past eight years she has worked her way through the ranks, becoming a popular personality in the toy and fancy dress industry along the way.
Ying Pickavance, Senior Category Manager, Hy-Pro
Pickavance boasts a wealth of experience in the sport, leisure and outdoor toys. Having previously held the role of senior product manager at MV Sports, she has been with Hy-Pro for over four years. She played an integral role in the development of the company throughout 2013, seeing the firm grow with the launch of new products and increased marketing plans. She has helped see the firm through the launch of many of its key lines.
Sally
Plumridge, International Marketing Director, LeapFrog
As part of her role at LeapFrog, Plumridge is responsible for international marketing and product, heading up a team of six people. She boasts a wealth of
experience gained from senior management positions held at companies such as Mattel and Tomy Europe. Her team said: “Sally’s
exceptional wealth of experience means she really knows what works.”
Davina Powell, Brand Manager, Spin Master
Powell is billed as a bit of an unsung hero in the office at Spin Master.
A colleague said: “It's
easy to overlook people, but I think people beneath director level should also get the credit they deserve. Davina also does a fantastic job here, is very contentious, hard working and patient, massively positive and you will never hear her complain. “She's generally an all round lovely person.”
Linda
Osbourne, Founder, KidzKreations
Osbourne has been in the toy industry for over 30 years, beginning at Mothercare before enjoying stints at firms including Golden Bear. She set up
KidzKreations ten years ago, building the firm to where it is today. Her nominator
commented: “She is one of the most professional, hardworking and amazing ladies in the industry that I have the privilege to call a friend.”
Katherine Pierce, Marketing Manager,
Jumbo Games
Pierce was brought into Jumbo Games with a remit to grow its own brands and intellectual properties. In the two and a half years that she has been working for Jumbo Games, the Wasgij adult puzzle range has grown by 34 per cent, Falcon by 18 per cent and Puzzle Accessories by 22 per cent. Pierce is expert at getting the most out of every pound spent and brings a very high level of professionalism and enthusiasm to her work.
Mary Price, Senior Director
International, Mega Brands
Price has a well established heritage within the toy industry, with a career that began in 1996 at Woolworths. She held various buying positions in the toys and stationery categories, ultimately becoming category manager. Price joined Mega in 2009, where she is now the senior director international, responsible for commercial policy, product development and marketing across EMEA.
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Emma Owen, PR and Promotions Manager, LEGO UK
After a 20-year career in PR, having worked in-house at Alliance Boots, The National Magazine Company, Madame Tussauds and LEGOLAND, as well as experience agency side, Owen has a great understanding of how to run a successful PR programme. Career highlights include the 10m high LEGO Christmas Tree at St Pancras Station, the LEGO Dress for London Fashion Week and the PR around The LEGO Movie.
Margit Pendl- Dobbie, Owner, Gameplan Europe
The joint owner of the business consultancy firm dedicated to helping its clients identify and realise its business opportunities across the globe, Pendl- Dobbie has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. A popular figure in the business, she has been with Gameplan for 19 years, joining in January 1995 as commercial director. Prior to this, she spent nearly 11 years as export manager with Payer Electroprodukte in Austria.
Annalise Quest, Director of Home, Harrods
Quest’s role at Harrods covers toys and the management of the Toy Kingdom. She began her career with Harrods in 1997 as the assistant buyer for the Beauty Apothecary. She has since held various positions including assistant buyer for perfumery and cosmetics and buyer for Beauty Apothecary. Quest lists one of her proudest momenta as winning the Harrods Chairman's Award for Excellence.
March 29
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