Epoch Everlasting Play Appoints Jeff Cheslik as CEO

Epoch Everlasting Play, the maker of Calico Critters and Aquabeads, appointed Jeff Cheslik as the company’s chief executive officer.

Cheslik comes to the company from MGA Entertainment, where he served as vice president of sales. The longtime toy industry veteran previously held positions at the LEGO Group, VTech, Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Kids II, and Uncle Milton.

“I am honored to join the Epoch family and help deliver on their mission to provide children with toys that will teach the important values of family, love, and nature. These values will, in turn, nurture the minds of children and their future children with gentleness and kindness,” Cheslik says. “The mission fits the core values I believe should be at the foundation of every toy company and I am proud to be a part of sharing that message through play.”

Established in 1958, Epoch Co. Ltd. is the third largest toy manufacturing company in Japan. Since establishing its own manufacturing facility in 2008, the company has grown to include nine subsidiary companies globally.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.