Women in Toys (WIT) will honor Ann Kearns, vice president, global toys, Sesame Workshop, with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the WIT 11th Annual Wonder Women in Toys, Licensing, and Entertainment Dinner on February 15. The organization will also present Eva Lorenz, general manager for Amazon Toys & Games, with Retailer of the Year. The event coincides with the North American International Toy Fair in New York City.
Kearns played a key role in the team that saw Tickle Me Elmo become a worldwide phenomenon in 1996, and ten years later, T.M.X. (Tickle Me Extreme) was similarly successful. In addition to her accomplishments in the toy category, in 1998, Kearns licensed both American Greetings and Gibson Greetings for the card and party goods category in an effort to establish the broadest retail placement for the Sesame Street brand. Kearns is also a recipient of the 2010 Wonder Women of Toys Award in the licensor category.
Lorenz serves as the general manager for Amazon Toys & Games and is responsible for merchandising, marketing, customer service, and operations. She joined Amazon in 2004 and held a variety of managerial roles prior to moving to Toys & Games last February.
