The Toy Association elected five new members to its Board of Directors for two-year terms expiring in February 2020 at its Annual General Meeting. The meeting also saw the chairmanship gavel pass to Bob Wann, Chief Play Monster of PlayMonster LLC, from retiring board chairman David Hargreaves of Hasbro Inc. The meeting was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center during the 115th North American International Toy Fair.
Wann joined The Toy Association’s Board of Directors in 2010. He currently serves on the Executive Committee and on The Toy Foundation’s Board of Directors. Wann was formerly the Association’s secretary-treasurer and served on numerous committees, including the audit, investment, and PlayCon committees.
During the meeting, four candidates were elected to serve their first terms on The Toy Association’s Board: Michael Keaton, president, Schleich North America; Tim Kilpin, president & CEO, consumer products division of Activision Blizzard; Andrew Quartin, CEO, Thames & Kosmos LLC; and Andrew Weiner, president, Toy’n around. In addition, Smith Holland Jr., president and CEO of Crayola LLC, has been elected to his first full term, after joining the board in 2017 to fill a vacant seat.
Seven board members were re-elected for a second term: Kathleen Campisano, vice president, Specialty, Barnes & Noble Inc.; Jennifer Caveza, senior vice president, Toys, Nickelodeon Consumer Products; Charlie Emby, co-president, Just Play LLC; Barbara Finigan, executive vice president and chief legal officer, Hasbro Inc.; Skip Kodak, senior vice president, Americas, LEGO Systems Inc.; Geoffrey Walker, executive vice president and chief strategic technology officer, Mattel Inc.; and Nancy Zwiers, chief marketing officer Spin Master Corp.
Wann named four executives to the Chairman’s Advisory Committee: former chairman John Gessert, president & CEO, American Plastic Toys; former chairman Soren Torp Laursen; Ashley Mady, president, Brandberry Inc., head of brand development, Basic Fun!, and president, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment; and Eva Lorenz, GM, Toys and Games, Amazon.
The Toy Association’s new Executive Committee will include: Wann; Skip Kodak of LEGO Systems Inc. as vice chairman; Richard Barry, executive vice president and global chief merchandising officer, Toys “R” Us Inc., as the Association’s new secretary-treasurer; Hasbro’s Barbara Finigan; Mattel’s Geoffrey Walker; and The Toy Association’s president & CEO Steve Pasierb in an ex officio role.
Former chairman David Hargreaves of Hasbro, Inc. and Shirley Price, The Toy Association’s former secretary-treasurer and president & COO, Funrise Toy Corporation, will depart the Executive Committee and Board. Board member Jeffrey Kennis, president, Enchanted Moments Inc. has concluded his third term, and William To, president, VTech Electronics North America, LLC will be departing the Board concurrent with his retirement. In addition, Al Verrecchia has concluded his term of service on the Association’s Advisory Committee, while Honorary Advisors Alan Hassenfeld, Hassenfeld Family Initiatives, and Neil Friedman, president & CEO, Alex Brands, also concluded their terms.
