The International Toy Magazine Association (ITMA) has voted Jackie Breyer, publisher of the Toy Book, and Maddie Michalik, editor-in-chief of the Toy Book, as co-presidents of the organization. The unanimous decision was made at ITMA’s annual meeting and is effective immediately.
Breyer and Michalik will serve their two-year term alongside Reyne Rice, who has been co-president of the organization for more than 7 years and will guide a smooth transition. As co-presidents of ITMA, Breyer, Michalik, and Rice will spend the term organizing member meetings at international trade shows, planning collaborations and sharing editorial content between member countries, recruiting new members, and more. Their goal is to become the source for international news, insight, analysis, and more in the global toy industry.
In addition, the co-presidents will expand ITMA’s Toy Tours program, in which manufacturers around the world sponsor ITMA journalists to visit their facilities. ITMA journalists will have the opportunity to learn more about the toymaker’s business and get a first-hand look at the toy industry in that country. ITMA journalists will report on their visits in their publications to share with the global toy industry. If interested in participating as a sponsor, manufacturers may contact jackie@toybook.com and maddie@toybook.com.
“I am excited to work alongside Maddie and Reyne as co-presidents of the International Toy Magazine Association,” Breyer says. “ITMA represents and reports on the global toy industry, and I am honored to have the opportunity to help grow and expand the ways in which we can support the toy industry on a larger scale.”
ITMA’s member publications represent industry experts from Belgium, China, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the U.S. ITMA members have the ability to access and share articles, information, and industry resources and connections.
“Jackie, Reyne, and I are looking forward to growing ITMA’s presence internationally and developing existing programs within the organization,” Michalik says. “There’s no better time to come together and cultivate a strong international bond between all of us toy industry publications.”
ITMA was formed in 1979 for leading toy trade magazines throughout the world to collaborate and disseminate information about the toys and games industry within their regions. ITMA member publications are selected because they are the leading trade publications in their country/region. ITMA members gather information through regular communication with toy retailers, manufacturers, and industry analysts, and by attending global trade shows. The industry relies upon ITMA’s member publications for the latest breaking news and trending industry information.
